ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday announced the 18-man Test squad for the upcoming Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka, recalling injury-hit leg-spinner Yasir Shah to the squad after over six months.
Pakistan will play a three-day warm-up match from July 11-13 in Sri Lanka before the two-match Test series commences. The first Test between the two sides is scheduled to take place at Galle on July 16, while the second Test will be played in Colombo from July 24, the PCB said in a statement.
The green shirts last toured Sri Lanka in 2015, with Pakistan clinching the three-match Test series 2-1. Pakistan had also played limited-overs games during that tour.
The upcoming Sri Lanka series is Pakistan’s final away commitment of the current ICC World Test Championship cycle, which stretches from July 2021 to June 2023, the PCB said.
Pakistan have played three series in the current cycle and with wins in three Tests and two draws, are ranked fifth in the nine-team table.
“These two matches are extremely crucial for our side as we have World Test Championship points at stake. I wish our boys all the best and I am sure they will make us proud,” Pakistan’s Chief Selector Muhammad Wasim said.
He said the PCB has selected the current squad considering the playing conditions in Sri Lanka and has equipped the team with the best possible resources.
“Our spin department is boosted with the return of Yasir Shah, who proved himself as a match-winner in Sri Lanka on our last tour and Sajid Khan has made the way for him. The spin department also includes two spin all-rounders in Mohammad Nawaz and Salman Ali Agha and left-arm orthodox Nauman Ali,” he added.
Shah last played his 46th Test match against the West Indies in August 2021 before injury ruled him out for the next couple of months. He missed the recent Pakistan-Australia Test series as well.
The 18-member squad includes Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain, wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood and Yasir Shah.
In the upcoming 2022-23 cricket season, Pakistan are set to host England and New Zealand for three and two Tests matches respectively.
