Pakistan trio keen to establish themselves in Test side

Pakistan will land in England to play a two-Test series with as many as five uncapped players in the squad. Fakhar Zaman, Faheem Ashraf, Saad Ali, Usman Salahuddin and Imam-ul-Haq are the new faces picked for the series starting 24 May at Lord's.

Zaman, a left-handed batsman, has the most recent experience of playing in England as he was part of the squad that won the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 there. His match-winning century in the final against India earned him the Player of the Match award.

He told reporters in Pakistan that the experience would come in handy. "Yes we will have an edge (after having played the Champions Trophy in England). I have played there only once but the weather remains the same throughout. I have an idea about how the wickets will be."

The 28-year-old was excited after his maiden Test call-up, and insisted the transition to the longer format won’t bother him.

"I am excited to have been picked in the Test team as I believe that Test cricket is the toughest form of the game,” he said. “Even when I was picked for the Pakistan T20 side, it was on the back of performances in four-day cricket. I want to take my ODI and T20I form into Test cricket and hope to perform well."

Ashraf, the 24-year-old all-rounder, has played eight ODIs and 10 T20Is for Pakistan, and now wants to feature in all three formats of the game.

"The goal is to cement my place permanently in all three formats of the game through consistent performances," he said. “I believe, to survive in all three formats, you need physical fitness and consistent form and I know that is the secret to success, which is why I am training hard.”

Mohammad Abbas, picked alongside Mohammad Amir and Hasan Ali in the fast bowling unit is playing in the County Championship for Leicestershire and returned 2/42 in his first outing against Sussex.

Abbas felt that playing county cricket a month before the Tests would help his preparations.

"I feel extremely lucky that despite being new to international cricket, I have been given an opportunity to play county cricket for a top-quality side. I feel blessed as I have played just two Test series so far," he told Sky Sports.

"Acclimatising to conditions is important for me, as is adjusting to the nature of the pitches in England. My idea is to experience bowling in such conditions, which will be similar to those I will encounter when I play the Tests series for Pakistan against England in the coming weeks."