Shaheen Afridi, the star pacer of Pakistan cricket team, has been named in the squad for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. The squad, led by Babar Azam, will play two Tests in Sri Lanka, which will kickstart Pakistan’s campaign in the third ICC World Test Championship cycle. Along with Afridi, two newcomers, Muhammad Huraira and Aamir Jamal, have also received maiden call-ups in the longer version of the game.
Former South African quick Morne Morkel has been appointed as Pakistan’s bowling coach for a six-month contract. The good news for Pakistan was the return of Afridi, who has not played any Test cricket since July last year due to a knee injury. Shaheen suffered a knee injury in his last Test appearance also in Sri Lanka in July, last played for Pakistan in the T20 World Cup final against England in October.
The 23-year-old Shaheen Afridi averages 24.86 and has an economy of 3.04. He is one wicket away from reaching a century of Test wickets, and no Pakistan bowler has picked up more wickets than him since the left-armer made his debut in December 2018.
The 21-year-old batter, Muhammad Huraira topped the wicket-takers chart for the fast bowlers in Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2022-23, taking 31 scalps at 29.71. Aamir Jamal defended 15 runs in the last over against England’s Moeen Ali on his Pakistan debut in September last year. His immaculate death bowling helped Pakistan to a thrilling six-run win over England in the fifth T20I.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has included four pacers in the squad to give the captain and team management ample resources on the tour. The squad has four spinners, four fast bowlers, six specialist batters, and two keeper-batters.
We boast a strong batting line-up, which I am confident will do well in the two matches, said Chief Selector Haroon Rasheed.
Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (vc & wk), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi, and Shan Masood.
