Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has revealed the 16-man Test squad for their upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka, set to take place in July.
The squad features the highly-anticipated return of fast bowler Shaheen Afridi, who is eager to make an impact after recovering from a knee injury. The last test series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka ended in a 1-1 draw in July 2022.
Shaheen Afridi, a star pacer for Pakistan, holds the spotlight as he approaches the milestone of reaching a century of Test wickets. Since his debut on December 03, 2018, no other Pakistan bowler has achieved more wickets than the talented left-armer.
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With an average of 24.86 and an economy of 3.04, Shaheen is considered a key player for Pakistan’s success in the series.
The squad also introduces uncapped batter Mohammad Huraira and all-rounder Aamir Jamal. The Pakistan team, led by captain Babar Azam and vice-captain Mohammad Rizwan, will assemble in Karachi on July 03 for preparations before departing on July 09. The tour schedule will be announced soon.
The selected squad of 16 players has been chosen based on the expected playing conditions in Sri Lanka. It comprises four spinners, four fast bowlers, six specialist batters, and two keeper-batters.
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Mohammad Huraira secured his spot in the squad due to his exceptional performances in domestic cricket, emerging as the leading run-scorer in the previous two editions of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and amassing over 1000 runs in the 2022-23 season.
Aamir Jamal, on the other hand, topped the wicket-takers chart for fast bowlers in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2022-23.
Haroon Rashid, the chief selector, congratulated all the selected players, particularly highlighting the achievements of Huraira and Jamal.
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He emphasized the importance of considering the conditions and challenges that lie ahead in Sri Lanka, leading to the inclusion of four spinners in the squad.
Additionally, former South African pacer Morne Morkel has been appointed as Pakistan’s bowling coach on a six-month contract, bringing his vast international experience to the team.
Morkel’s illustrious career includes 309 Test wickets, 188 ODI wickets, and 47 T20I wickets, with his last international game taking place in September 2017.
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