An 18-member Pakistan Test team has been announced by chief selector Wahab Riaz for the three matches that will take place on the Australian trip between December 14, 2023, and January 7, 2024.
Wahab’s first task since taking over the national men’s selection committee last week will be this one.
Shan Masood will captain the team for the first time in this role. He was named Pakistan’s captain for the ICC World Test Championship 2023–25 cycle after taking over the reins from Babar Azam last week.
Saim Ayub, a left-handed opener, has made his first appearance in the Test squad thanks to an outstanding Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2023–24 campaign. The 22-year-old amassed three hundred and five runs in four games for the Karachi Whites, including a game-winning double century against Faisalabad in the tournament final. In the Pakistan Cup, a one-day competition, he maintained his success and finished as the top run scorer. He was voted the tournament’s best batter.
Khurram Shahzad, a right-arm fast bowler, has also received his first Test call-up following a strong domestic season thus far. With 36 wickets at an average of 20.31 in eight matches during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2023–24, the 23-year-old was the leading wicket-taker. He also grabbed 13 wickets at an average of 16.62 in the just-finished Pakistan Cup.
All-around fast bowler Faheem Ashraf, who last played for Pakistan in Test matches during England’s visit to the country in late 2022, has rejoined the team.
Both right-arm bowler Muhammad Wasim Jr. and left-arm pacer Mir Hamza, who took 32 wickets at 20.88 in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2023–24, will be returning to the team. During New Zealand’s December 2022–January 2023 tour of Pakistan, the two fast bowlers were members of the Pakistani team.
The following players will represent Pakistan in the Australia Tests: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jr., Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel, Imam-ul-Haq, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, and Imam-ul-Haq.
“The squad has been assembled keeping in mind the challenging Australian conditions,” chief selector Wahab Riaz said of the team chosen for the Australia tour. To allow the management to be creative with the squad combinations in all three Test matches, we have added extra pace bowling resources to the team while keeping an eye on the wickets.
“Saim Ayub has been included in the team following his outstanding domestic campaign this year. He has strengthened his case for selection by performing well at bat in the Pakistan Cup and Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. His addition will bolster our potent hitting lineup.
Pakistan has had a great start to the ICC World Test Championship 2023–25, following their triumph in Sri Lanka earlier in the year. We’re hoping the group can maintain this momentum when they play in Australia. We have made an effort to make sure the group has access to all the tools they need to succeed in Australia.
Prior to the visit, the team will gather in Rawalpindi on November 22 for a training camp. The camp is slated to take place at Pindi Cricket Stadium from November 23 to November 28. The group will depart via plane from Lahore on November 30. A few other athletes have also received invitations to participate in the training camp. Arshad Iqbal, Kashif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usama Mir, and Usman Qadir are the players that have been called up for the camp.
