Pakistan announces squad for day-night Test
Babar Azam has been rewarded for his outstanding ODI form with a maiden call-up to Pakistan's Test squad for the series opener against West Indies.
Published : Oct 08, 2016 18:56 IST
Babar Azam has been rewarded for his outstanding ODI form with a maiden call-up to Pakistan's Test squad for the series opener against West Indies. Azam compiled centuries in all three ODIs as Pakistan whitewashed the Windies 3-0 in the 50-over format. And the middle-order batsman will now hope to make his five-day bow when the first Test between the sides begins in Dubai on Thursday.
Mohammad Nawaz was also selected to the Test squad for the first time, the all-rounder impressing with the ball during the 50-over series, taking seven wickets. Nawaz has 1440 runs and 44 wickets in 29 matches in first-class cricket.
Younis Khan was already out as he recovers from dengue fever, with Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafeez and Shan Masood the other players who travelled for the tour of England to be omitted from the 14-man squad.
The opening match in Dubai will mark Pakistan's first day-night Test match, with the second Test starting on October 21 in Abu Dhabi and the finale beginning in Sharjah on October 30.
Pakistan rose to No. 1 in the ICC's Test rankings in August but have since been overhauled by India.
Squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Azhar Ali, Sami Aslam, Asad Shafiq, Babar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Amir, Imran Khan, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Zulfiqar Babar, Rahat Ali