Pakistan pick four uncapped players for Bangladesh Tests

Pakistan have announced a 16-member squad for their upcoming red-ball assignment against Bangladesh.

The series will be a part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle, where Pakistan are currently placed fifth with a point percentage of 50% while Bangladesh are eighth with 16.67%.

While Shan Masood continues to lead the team, Pakistan have opted to inject fresh faces into the setup, with four uncapped players included in the travelling contingent.

Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais and Ghazi Ghori have all earned call-ups for the two-match Test series, starting on 8 May.

Fazal and Awais, both left-handed batters, have been rewarded for their strong domestic performances. Butt, a bowling all-rounder, brings over a decade of experience in domestic cricket, having made his first-class debut in 2015.

Wicketkeeper batter Ghori, meanwhile, already has international exposure in white-ball cricket, having made his ODI debut against Bangladesh last month.

The squad also includes experienced campaigners in Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan and Salman Ali Agha, among others.

Squad: Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Ghazi Ghori, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi

Ahead of the tour, the available players, excluding those involved in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL), will assemble in Karachi for a red-ball camp from 27 April to 1 May.

The Pakistan Cricket Board also confirmed its coaching setup for the Bangladesh tour, with former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed appointed as head coach. He will be supported by Asad Shafiq as batting coach and Umar Gul as bowling coach.

Schedule:

First Test: May 8-12, Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium
Second Test: May 16-20, Sylhet International Cricket