So cricket is back for Pakistan team after more than two months! Bangladesh is in the town for a two-game Test series. The preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy has also prompted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to alter the venue, shifting the second Test from Karachi to Rawalpindi. The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium will now host both the Tests, with the first one starting from August 21. Ahead of the first red-ball fixture, let us look at the Pakistan squad and predict the first XI against Bangladesh.
Ayub or Hurraira – who should open with Shafique?
It is a three-way tie for the two opening slots for Pakistan. Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub and Muhammad Hurraira. Out of these three, Shafique is a certainty. The 24-year-old has been a reliable option ever since his Test debut in 2021. With an average of around 45, including five centuries and four fifties, Shafique is a compact player with a sound technique. To partner him up will be either of Saim Ayub or Muhammad Hurraira. By the looks of it, it is expected to be Hurraira, who has been in superb touch off late.
In a recent first-class clash against Bangladesh HP, Hurraira slammed 218 in an emphatic fashion. He has been slamming runs in the domestic circuit and should be ideal in Pakistani conditions. He was part of the Test squad for the Sri Lanka tour in July 2023 but didn’t get a game when Pakistan won the series 2-0. Ayub, on the other hand, has not played enough first-class cricket. He played the recent A game against Bangladesh but was out for 11.
Power-packed PAK middle-order ft. Babar Azam
The middle-order of this Pakistan team is more or less settled. Skipper Shan Masood is fresh from the England One-Day Cup, where he made 235 runs at an average of 39.16. He will look to get in a groove for red-ball cricket and lead from the front. The number four is a designated slot for Babar Azam. The T20I skipper last featured in the diabolical T20 World Cup 2024. Regardless, the modern-day great from Pakistan enjoys an astounding average of above 80 against Bangladesh in the 4 innings he has played. Babar would love to add more to his tally and near his 4000 Test runs.
Then comes the newly made vice-captain Saud Shakeel, who will provide an attacking impetus in the middle-order. It was only last week when he scored 76 in an A match against Bangladesh. It now remains to be seen as to how will Shakeel will perform given now he will act as a deputy to Masood. Providing the only spin bowling option should be Salman Ali Agha, who has been a regular fixture in Pakistan Test team since some time now. While he has not played so much cricket lately, Salman is likely to slotted in due to his seniority and experience. 12 Tests, 2 centuries, 6 fifties and 12 wickets – the 30-year-old hasn’t done much wrong either.
The wicket-keeping slot should and is likely to go to Muhammad Rizwan, who has also done decently in the format. Since 2023, he has scored 243 runs in 5 innings, averaging 60.75. Although he also hasn’t played professional cricket since the T20 World Cup, he is likely to don the number seven role in place of Sarfaraz Ahmed.
All out pace attack ft. Shaheen Afridi & Naseem Shah
Yes! Naseem Shah is back in the whites! After going through an injury due to which he missed traveling to Australia, Naseem would be rearing to feast again on Pakistani tracks. He has that zip and X-factor to rattle any batting lineup. And when we talk about X-factor, how can someone leave out Shaheen Afridi, who will be nothing less than a menace against Bangladesh, against whom he has taken 15 wickets in just 3 Tests.
Another left-arm pacer Mir Hamza, who was also playing for Glamorgan in Domestic One-Day Cup. Pakistan also have Khurram Shahzad and veteran Mohammad Ali but the team is likely to go ahead with the former. Shahzad has played just 1 Test match but he took a fifer in his only game, that was against Australia in Perth. Unfortunately for the hosts, pace-bowling all-rounder Aamir Jamal is ruled out due to an injury.
Predicted Pakistan Playing XI vs BAN for 1st Test
Abdullah Shafique, M Hurraira, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel (vc), Salman Ali Agha, M Rizwan (wk) Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Mir Hamza, Khurram Shahzad
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