Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced their 12-member squad for the second Test match against Bangladesh which is scheduled to start from August 30 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi. Ace speedster Shaheen Shah Afridi has been rested for the series decider. Shaheen was recently blessed with a baby during the first Test match and this is most likely to be the reason why the premier speedster got benched for the upcoming Test match.
Pakistan who featured with all the speedsters in the first Test match have added Abrar Ahmed and Agha Salman in their XII for the second Test match. Bangladesh are currently leading 1-0 in two Test match series and this is the do-or-die match for the hosts to level the series. Pakistan lost the first Test match against Bangladesh by 10 wickets and this is the first time that Pakistan lost a Test match against Bangladesh.
Apart from bowlers, former Pakistan skipper Babar Azam failed to score runs in the first outing now he will look to fire runs from his bat in the second Test match at Rawalpindi stadium. On the other hand, Bangladesh who never won a Test series against Pakistan will look to create history and this will boost their morale before the upcoming India tour.
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Pakistan are currently eighth on World Test Championship (WTC) points and there are very slight chances that the Men in Green will qualify for the final of Test championship.
In a press conference today, Pakistan's white-ball captain, Jason Gillespie, shared insights into the selection process.
"Abrar Ahmed was included in the 12-member squad based on our assessment of the conditions. We have yet to see the pitch; we'll evaluate the conditions tomorrow morning," Gillespie explained.
Pakistan XII against Bangladesh:
Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Saim Ayub , Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Abdullah Shafique, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shehzad.
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