Pakistan have recalled Faheem Ashraf and Bilal Asif to their squad for the first Test of the series against Bangladesh starting February 7.
The Bangladesh cricket team has agreed to travel to Pakistan for a three-format series. The first Test match in the series will be played in Rawalpindi from 7 February. Pakistan have called up 26-year-old all-rounder Faheem Ashraf and 34-year-old Bilal Asif for the series.
Ashraf has played 4 Tests so far. He performed well against Ireland in 2018 and then has not been a part of the Test side for a long time owing to injuries. He is now fit again and will be raring to go against Bangladesh.
“We have this option of playing a pace bowling all-rounder against Bangladesh and Ashraf took five wickets in the Quaid-e-Azam trophy final so we have selected him,” said national selector and head coach Misbah-ul-Haq.
Pakistan names 16-player squad for Rawalpindi Test
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 1, 2020
More: https://t.co/k0M3JOju9e #PAKvBAN pic.twitter.com/pnr6GcWNOU
On the other hand, Bilal Asif, who last played a Test in December 2018, was out of the squad owing to form. He has now been recalled to the side to provide some spinning options to the home side. The 34-year-old has played 5 Tests and has managed to pick 16 wickets so far.
Pakistan Test squad: Azhar Ali (c), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Bilal Asif, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan Snr, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah.
The first Test is scheduled from February 7 to 11 and the second Test will be played in April.
(Inputs from AFP)
