The PCB has named the Pakistan squad for the two-Test series against New Zealand which begins on December 26 onwards. The first Test will be played in Karachi and the second in Multan from January 3rd.
New Zealand will also play three ODIs on January 10, 14, and 17, with all matches to be played in Karachi.
Pakistan squad sees the return of pacer Hassan Ali, who missed out on the recent England Test series which the hosts lost 0-3, their first whitewash in Test series at home in 75 years. He replaces Mohammad Ali in the squad, who has been advised to participate in the ongoing Pakistan Cup in Karachi.
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Uncapped middle-order batter Kamran Ghulam has also been picked to replace Azhar Ali in squad who retired from international cricket after the third Test against England.
Meanwhile, Faheem Ashraf also misses out as he too, like Mohammad Ali, has been asked to play in the ongoing Pakistan Cup.
Haris Rauf has not been included in the squad as he is recovering from an injury he sustained while fielding in the Rawalpindi Test. However, Naseem Shah, who missed the Multan and Karachi Tests due to a shoulder niggle, has been declared fit and as such, retained in the squad.
Pakistan Test squad for the New Zealand series:
Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Hassan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed (WK), Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood, Zahid Mehmood
(PCB/AFP inputs)
