The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially unveiled the playing XI for the first Test match against Bangladesh, set to commence on August 21 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. This also marks the debut of Jason Gillespie as the head coach of the Pakistan Test cricket team.
Pakistan playing lineup ft. Babar, Masood
Shan Masood, the red-ball skipper, will have Saud Shakeel as his deputy. Shakeel was handed the vice-captaincy from Shaheen Afridi to ease the workload on the left-arm pacer. The opening pair will consist of Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub, meaning Pakistan have ignored Muhammad Hurraira, who was included in our predicted playing XI.
Skipper Masood will bat at number three, followed by the star batter, Babar Azam. It will be the first professional match for Babar since the diabolical T20 World Cup in July. The middle order will be solidified by vice-captain Shakeel, wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan, and the lone spin option in Salman Ali Agha. Rizwan has pipped Sarfaraz Ahmed as expected.
Welcome return for Naseem Shah
Pakistan’s bowling attack is as threatening as it gets, with the likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Ali, and the promising Khurram Shahzad leading the charge. This is a welcome return for Naseem Shah, who underwent a surgery and missed the entire tour to Australia. While he has been decent in white-ball performances, he has that X-factor in him to excel in Pakistani conditions.
In a recent development, right-arm fast bowler Aamir Jamal has been ruled out of the squad due to a back injury sustained during county cricket. He has been advised to undergo rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.
Pakistan Playing XI vs Bangladesh
Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Khurram Shehzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
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