PCB announces squad for test series against Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka will host Pakistan for the Test matches next month.

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, slated to take place next month.

Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah will mark his return to the national men’s cricket team as chief selector Muhammad Wasim announced the 18-member squad for the Test series today (Wednesday).

Yasir was instrumental in Pakistan’s 2-1 victory over Sri Lanka on their last tour of the island in 2015, snaring 24 wickets at 19.33. He played his 46th and last Test, to date, against the West Indies in August 2021. However, he wasn’t able to be a part of the national squad due to being unfit since then.

The cricketer has finally joined the side after regaining full fitness. Sri Lanka will host Pakistan for the Test matches next month.

Salman Ali Agha, who has scored 4,224 runs and taken 88 wickets in first-class, is another addition to the squad.

Mohammad Nawaz is the third player to be recalled. He was named in the squad for Australia Tests but was withdrawn due to injury.

The squad named for the latest ICC World Test Championship fixtures include three openers, four middle-order batters, three all-rounders, two wicketkeepers, two spinners and four fast bowlers.

Squad:

Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain, wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood and Yasir Shah.