The Pakistan cricket team has encountered a significant challenge ahead of their crucial Test series against Bangladesh, as fast bowler Aamir Jamal has been ruled out due to a persistent back injury.
The 28-year-old pacer, who impressed in his debut against Australia, could not recover in time and will now undergo a comprehensive rehabilitation program at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.
This setback has left the team without one of its promising fast bowlers, impacting the composition of the squad for the upcoming series.
Jamal’s injury adds to the woes of the Pakistan team, which had already released spinner Abrar Ahmed and top-order batter Kamran Ghulam from the squad earlier.
As a result, the team will now field a 14-member squad for the two-match Test series, which is set to begin on Wednesday. The loss of Jamal, combined with the absence of Ahmed and Ghulam, has put additional pressure on the remaining players to perform at their best in this critical series.
With Jamal unavailable, Pakistan’s pace attack will be spearheaded by the formidable duo of Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, both of whom have consistently delivered strong performances in the past.
They will be supported by Khurram Shehzad and Mir Hamza, who will need to step up and fill the void left by Jamal’s absence. The team’s strategy will likely focus on leveraging the home conditions to their advantage as they aim to secure a series victory.
A series win against Bangladesh is crucial for Pakistan, not only to boost team morale but also to improve their standing in the ICC World Test Championship. Currently sitting in the sixth position, Pakistan is eager to climb up the rankings and contend for a spot in the prestigious final, which is scheduled to take place at Lord’s next year.
The Pakistan squad for the Bangladesh Test series includes Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), and Shaheen Afridi. The team will be determined to overcome these challenges and deliver a strong performance in the upcoming matches.
