NZ Test Series: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named their team on Wednesday for the two-match Test series against New Zealand that will begin in Karachi on December 26. Hasan Ali, a top-tier fast bowler, rejoins the Test lineup, and veteran Azhar Ali, who has retired, is replaced by uncapped batsman Kamran Ghulam.
The just-finished three-match home Test series against England did not include Hasan, who is 28. With 77 wickets from just 21 Test matches and an average of 24.57, he has strong red-ball statistics that can help Pakistan’s faltering bowling attack. While Faheem Ashraf is advised to participate in the present domestic cricket tournament, he takes Mohammad Ali’s spot in the squad.
The roster also includes Naseem Shah, who missed the last two Tests against England due to a shoulder injury. Haris Rauf, however, was unable to recover from the injury he suffered while fielding in Rawalpindi’s first Test match against England. Injury problems, especially in the bowling department, were a major factor in Pakistan’s humiliating loss to England.
However, the confidence of the Pakistani bowling unit, which suffered greatly against England, will rise with the return of Naseem and Hasan. The hosts lost all three games, and the bowlers received deserved criticism for failing to rein in England’s aggressive style. Azahar Ali is replaced in the batting unit by the uncapped batting all-rounder Kamran Ghulam, who is likely to make his Test debut.
In 44 first-class games, Ghulam has scored 3268 runs at an excellent average of 47.36, including 597 runs at a 42.64 average during the most recent Quaid-e-Azam season.
Pakistan Test Squad for the New Zealand Series: Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Nawaz, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Zahid Mehmood.
