Pakistan are gearing up for a crucial two-match Test series against Bangladesh, starting on August 21, as they strive to improve their chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship final. All eyes will be on star batter Babar Azam, who returns to the longest format of the game.
Babar Azam eyes historic milestone
Babar Azam is on the cusp of a historic achievement. With 2661 runs in the World Test Championship, he needs just 339 runs to reach the 3000-run mark. This would make him the fastest batter to achieve this milestone, surpassing the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Currently, Rohit leads India's tally with 2552 runs, while Kohli has accumulated 2235 runs in the competition.
Babar Azam can only achieve the towering feat if he successfully accumulates 339 runs in the series against Bangladesh, he will not only achieve the 3000-run milestone but also become the first Pakistani batter to do so in the World Test Championship. This feat would place him alongside Joe Root, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, and Ben Stokes as the only batters to reach this landmark.
The series opener between Pakistan and Bangladesh will be hosted in Rawalpindi. Due to ongoing renovation work at the National Stadium, the second match will be played behind closed doors in Karachi.
Pakistan Opt for All-Pace Attack, Release Abrar Ahmed and Kamran Ghulam
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a strategic decision to release spinner Abrar Ahmed and batter Kamran Ghulam from the Test squad for the first match against Bangladesh. This move allows them to focus on an all-pace attack for the Rawalpindi Test.
To ensure Abrar Ahmed maintains match fitness, he will join the Pakistan Shaheens squad for their second four-day match against Bangladesh A. This will provide him valuable match practice ahead of the second Test in Karachi. Kamran Ghulam will also be part of the Shaheens squad.
Pakistan's Test squad:
Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal (subject to Fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper) and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Bangladesh's Test squad:
Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Kumer Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Syed Khaled Ahmed.
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