The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday announced a 15-player squad for the two ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Tests against the West Indies, which will be played in Multan from 17-21 January and 25-29 January. With seven changes from the side that toured South Africa, the selection committee has delivered some surprises, including the return of Imam-ul-Haq and mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed, while Shaheen Afridi has been left out to manage his workload.
Imam-ul-Haq inclusion a massive surprise?
Perhaps the most notable return is Imam-ul-Haq, who had a stellar domestic season. The left-handed opener amassed 635 runs in nine innings at an average of 70.56, including two massive centuries. His ability to anchor the innings at the top order makes him a vital inclusion.
| Matches | Runs | Average | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Innings | 635 | 70.56 | 184 |
His standout performances in domestic cricket included scores of 184 (229) and 160 (189), proving he is in prime form ahead of the West Indies series. With Abdullah Shafique struggling for form, Imam’s return adds stability to the opening slot. Also, Pakistan lost Saim Ayub, whose participation in the ICC Champions Trophy is under dark clouds as well. As an opener, Imam gets a news life and is expected to play as well.
ICC Champions Trophy rest for Shaheen Afridi?
The pace attack will have a different look, as Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Aamir Jamal, and Mir Hamza have been rested as part of workload management. In their absence, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, and uncapped pacer Kashif Ali will shoulder the pace responsibilities. Not to forget, Pakistan have a packed schedule. After the two Tests, they will host a tri-nation series against South Africa and New Zealand, where the likes of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf are expected to get included.
Pakistan squad for West Indies Tests: PAK vs WI
Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wk/batter), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wk/batter), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha.
More to follow..
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