Pakistan has recalled Mohammad Abbas and Naseem Shah while resting Haris Rauf and Mohammad Nawaz as the tourists announced a 19-member squad for the two-match Test series against the West Indies, starting on Thursday at Sabina Park, Jamaica.
Ahead of the first Test, Pakistan captain Babar Azam revealed that Rauf and Nawaz were sent back home so that they can spend some time with their families before the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan to be played in the first week of September in Sri Lanka.
Babar said on Wednesday (August 11): “Looking at the likely team composition for the two Tests and giving preference to the well-being of the players, it has been agreed to release Haris Rauf and Mohammad Nawaz so that they can return to Pakistan and spend quality time with their families.
This will also give them a few extra days to relax, regroup and recharge for the commitments ahead, which commence with the series against Afghanistan.”
He added, “The past 12 months have been tough and the cricket that lies ahead is equally challenging and demanding. As such, we need to have as many fresh bodies as practically possible without compromising on the team results and performances.”
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The skipper admitted that an away Test series is always challenging but he is confident of his team’s good show in the two-match Test series starting from August 12.
Babar further said: “Away Test series are always challenging and it is our endeavor to be a high-performing side on away series. Red-ball cricket is the pinnacle format of the game and is a test of skill, endurance, technique, patience, and fitness. Test cricket does not allow you to show complacency at any stage and this is what we will like to achieve at Sabina Park over the next couple of weeks.
Jamaican pitches provide a good challenge to the batters hence our batters need to come to the party and display their true potential and caliber in the two Tests. They have performed well this year and it is now time to take that confidence into the Test series and put up an improved and enhanced performance.”
On the recent T20I series the Pakistan skipper said: “As part of the T20 WC preparations, we wanted to give maximum opportunities to our players against the firepower of the West Indies but unfortunately the series got badly affected due to rain.”
He signed off by saying, “No one can control the weather, but I think it is time to look at alternates to ensure cricket is not affected by the weather. Maybe adding reserve days to every white-ball match is an option, I don't know, but I think there needs to be some debate around ensuring there is minimum loss of cricket due to weather.”
Here’s the Pakistan Test squad:
Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (VC/wk), Abdullah Shafique, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Hasan Ali, Imran Butt, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Yasir Shah, Zahid Mahmood
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)
