National Test Squad Announcement For Tour To Srilanka
The Pakistan team for the Test series against Sri Lanka has been announced, while fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has returned to the team and Sarfraz Ahmed has also been included in the squad.
The National Selection Committee has included
Mohammad Harira and Aamir Jamal for the first time in the announced 16-member
squad, while former South African cricketer Morne Morkel will be the bowling
coach.
The team has been selected keeping in mind the conditions of Sri Lanka which includes four spinners, four fast bowlers, six reliable batsmen and two wicket keepers.
However, fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sarfraz Ahmed have returned to Test cricket, they have been included in the Pakistan cricket team for the two-Test series to be played in the tour of Sri Lanka next month.
The two-Test series against Sri Lanka will actually be Pakistan's first series in the third ICC World Test Championship.
Pakistani Team
Babar Azam (Captain), Muhammad Rizwan (Vice-Captain and Wicketkeeper), Amir Jamal, Abdullah Shafiq, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Muhammad Harira, Muhammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Nouman Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz in the Pakistani squad. Ahmed (wicket keeper), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi and Shaan Masood have been included.
What Record Can Shaheen Afridi Make In This Test Series?
Shaheen Afridi's Statement On Returning To The Test Team
Shaheen Shah Afridi expressed his
happiness on his return to the Test team and said that he is happy to return to
the Test team after a year and he was feeling the distance from Test cricket
very much and being away from this format was too much for him. It was
difficult.
Shaheen Afridi says that he missed the entire home season in Sri Lanka last year due to injury and now he is coming back to Sri Lanka and he is hoping to make this comeback a memorable one as well as test cricket. Also looking forward to completing a century of wickets, he is grateful to his fans for supporting him during the tough times and is now ready for the challenges ahead.
A look at the career of Muhammad Harira, who will be included in the Test squad for the first time: Muhammad Harira, who was included in the Test squad for the first time, has played 10 ODIs and six T20 matches in addition to twenty-four first-class matches.
His selection was due to his consistent performance, he was the highest run-scorer in the last two Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, 21-year-old Muhammad Harira from Sialkot is the only one to score 1000 runs in the 2022-23 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. A batsman, he scored 1,024 runs at an average of 73.14 with four centuries and two half-centuries in eleven matches.
Mohammad Harira also performed well in the tour of Zimbabwe by Pakistan Shaheens. He scored 242 runs with the help of a century (178) and a half-century (64) in the two first-class matches of the tour.
Mohammad Harira is the second youngest batsman to score a triple century in first-class cricket in Pakistan, the record for the youngest triple century being held by Javed Miandad.
Mohammad Harira scored 311 runs off 343 balls for Norden against Balochistan in the 2021-20 season at the State Bank Ground Karachi and played a key role in Norden's innings and 170-run win.
Aamir Jamal Looks Back On His Career
27-year-old Aamir Jamal from Mianwali took the
highest 16 wickets in the six ODI matches played by Pakistan Shaheens during
their tour of Zimbabwe. Aamir Jamal was the highest wicket-taker among fast
bowlers in the 2022-23 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, taking 31 wickets at an average of
29.71, including two five-wicket hauls in an innings.
Aamir Jamal has also represented Pakistan in two T20I
matches. The highlight of his career was his successful defense of 15 runs
against Moeen Ali in the last over of his debut T20I last September, due to
which Pakistan beat England. He won the fifth T20 International by six runs
against. Apart from this, Aamir Jamal has played 23 first-class matches, 23
ODIs and 20 T20 matches.
The Expression Of Selector Haroon Rasheed On The Announcement Of The National Squad
Regarding the selection of the Pakistani team, Chief Selector Haroon Rashid says that he congratulates all the selected players, especially Muhammad Harira and Amir Jamal, who have managed to make it to the team due to their excellent performance.
He says that, the team has been selected considering the conditions and challenges of Sri Lanka, this is third ICC Test Championship. Harun Rashid says that, the players who have not been selected for this tour should not be disappointed as they will also be part of our plan, the upcoming season is very busy and for these players domestic cricket and Pakistan Shaheens. There will be opportunities to play and prepare yourself.
The Pakistani cricket team will assemble in Karachi on July 3, where its camp will continue until departure on July 9. The tour schedule will be released by the Sri Lankan Cricket Board. The last Test series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was played in July 2022, which was tied one a piece.