Naseem Shah returns to Test squad, Shakeel appointed vice-captain for Bangladesh Tests

Fast bowler Naseem Shah has made a comeback to the Pakistan Test squad after being sidelined for 13 months. The selectors have appointed Saud Shakeel as the vice-captain of the 17-member squad for the upcoming two home Tests against Bangladesh. Additionally, batters Kamran Ghulam and Muhammad Hurraira, along with fast bowler Mohammad Ali, have been included in the squad as a recognition of their impressive performances in domestic cricket.

From the squad that toured Australia earlier this year, Imam-ul-Haq, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan failed to make the cut this time, while Hasan Ali Mohammad Wasim are injured.

The Pakistan squad will start training in a camp from August 11 in Rawalpindi under head coach Jason Gillespie and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood, while the Bangladesh side will arrive in Islamabad on August 17. The two Tests, part of the World Test Championship, will be played from August 21 to 25 in Rawalpindi and August 30 to September 3 in Karachi.

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Shan Masood will lead the side while Shakeel will take over as deputy from Shaheen Shah Afridi. It is "part of the selectors' strategic decision that is aimed at managing Pakistan's lead fast bowler's workload management during the period from 21 August 2024 to 5 April 2025 in which Pakistan is scheduled to play nine Tests, 14 T20Is and, at least, 17 ODIs," a PCB release said. Aamir Jamal has been named in the squad subject to fitness.

Pakistan Test squad for Bangladesh series

Shan Masood (capt), Saud Shakeel (vice-capt), Aamir Jamal (subject to fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Hurraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk) and Shaheen Shah Afridi

More to follow...