PCB Announces 12-Member Squad for Must-Win Test Against Bangladesh
Taking to Twitter, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled the 12-member squad which will form their Playing XI for the must-win second and final Test against Bangladesh.
Along with Shaheen, wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed as well as uncapped batters Kamran Ghulam and Muhammad Hurraira have also been released from the squad.
Notably, Shaheen Afridi had a forgettable outing in the first Test as he managed only two wickets in the first innings.
Pakistan would be looking to bounce back in the second Test after suffering the first-ever defeat against Bangladesh in the opening Test of the two-match series.
Following the defeat, several strategies came under question; such as going with an all-pace attack, declaration and batting failure in the second innings.
Pakistan, after being put into bat first, accumulated 448/6 and declared their first innings in the dying minutes of the second day. Bangladesh, in response, piled up a mammoth total of 565, courtesy of Mushfiqur Rahim’s marathon 191-run knock, before bundling out in the third session of the fourth day.
The first Test was assumed to be heading towards a draw but Pakistan’s batting lineup faltered against Bangladesh’s spinners on the final day and could score 146, setting the visitors a meager 30-run target.
The Bangladesh openers made no mistake in chasing down a paltry total and steered their side to a historic victory over Pakistan.
Pakistan 12-member Squad
Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha.
Bangladesh Squad
Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mahmudullah, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed and Khaled Ahmed.
