New vice-captain named as Pakistan reveal Test squad to face Bangladesh
Saud Shakeel handed vice-captaincy reins as Pakistan announce squad for ICC World Test Championship series against Bangladesh.
Pakistan have promoted Saud Shakeel to the role of vice-captain when announcing their squad for their two-match Test series against Bangladesh that commences later this month.
Shakeel will take over the crucial job of vice-captain from Shaheen Afridi, with selectors advising the star quick will have his workload managed over the coming months with the side scheduled to play nine Tests, 14 T20Is and at least 17 ODIs between now and the start of April next year.
Shaheen Afridi struck with two big wickets in the first over of the Ireland innings.
The promotion of Shakeel to partner skipper Shan Masood in the leadership positions is among the biggest surprises from Pakistan's announcement as the Asian side named a new-look group for their first Test series under head coach Jason Gillespie.
Regular opener Imam-ul-Haq drops out of the squad completely, Hasan Ali and Mohammad Wasim Jnr aren't considered due to injury, while Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Noman Ali, and Sajid Khan are all notable absentees for the first squad selected by Gillespie.
Pakistan batter Saud Shakeel earned Player of the Match for a critical fifty against Netherlands at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023
Instead, Pakistan have recalled pace duo Naseem Shah and Mohammad Ali following a long absence from Test cricket and handed batter Mohammad Huraira call-up for potential debut at Test level after some impressive performances in domestic cricket.
In total 12 of the 15 players selected were involved in Pakistan's most recent Test series in Australia over the new year, with Huraira, Ali, and Naseem the fresh faces for the first Test against Bangladesh.
Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed and batter Kamran Ghulam were originally a part of the squad for the first Test but were released ahead of the game. They've been added to the Pakistan Shaheens squad for the team's encounter against Bangladesh A, but will rejoin Pakistan ahead of the second Test.
The series is set to commence in Rawalpindi on 21 August, with the second Test held in Karachi from 30 August.
Pakistan currently sit in fifth place on the ICC World Test Championship standings and will be looking for a pair of positive results against Bangladesh to remain in touch with the competition pacesetters.
Pakistan squad for the first Test: Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Aamir Jamal (subject to Fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Shaheen Afridi
Series schedule:
First Test: Rawalpindi, August 21-25
Second Test: Karachi, August 30 - September 3