ISLAMABAD: Key all-rounder Aamir Jamal has been released from the Test squad against the Bangladesh series due to injury, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Monday, dealing a blow to the hosts ahead of the two-match series scheduled to commence later this week.
Jamal has been recovering from a back injury that he sustained while playing county cricket this year. The right-arm pacer was earlier included in Pakistan’s squad subject to fitness clearance. The PCB said Jamal has been advised to improve his fitness at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.
“Right-arm fast bowler Aamir Jamal has been released from the Test squad ahead of the series against Bangladesh,” the PCB said.
The first Test match between Bangladesh and hosts Pakistan will commence from August 21 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium while the second match of the series will also be played in Rawalpindi from August 26.
Rawalpindi will host both matches in the series after the PCB moved the second Test from Karachi due to the ongoing renovation work at the National Bank Stadium for next year’s Champions Trophy.
On Sunday, Pakistani all-rounder Salman Ali Agha said he was excited at the prospect of being the country’s only off-spin option against Bangladesh. Pakistan’s only specialist leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed was left out from the squad as the hosts aim to prepare a green-top wicket to help their fast bowlers in the first match.
“When I go out to bat, I only think that I am a batsman,” Agha told reporters at a news conference on Sunday. “Similarly, when I go out to bowl, I always think about bowling.”
The monsoon rains in Pakistan are expected to disrupt the first test in Rawalpindi, but Salman said the home team is not concerned about the overcast conditions and is focused on beating Bangladesh.
“Rain is not in our control, we don’t think much about it,” he said. “What we know is that the conditions are not new to us, and we know it will help our fast bowlers.”
Pakistan squad
Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, 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
Setback for Pakistan as injury rules out all-rounder Aamir Jamal from Bangladesh series
https://arab.news/n7vrm
Setback for Pakistan as injury rules out all-rounder Aamir Jamal from Bangladesh series
- Jamal has been recovering from back injury sustained earlier this year while playing county cricket
- Pakistan play first of two Test matches against Bangladesh at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday
Pakistan says Indian minister initiated handshake in Dhaka, first contact since May conflict
- Pakistan’s Ayaz Sadiq and India’s Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met on the sidelines of Khaleda Zia’s funeral
- The National Assembly of Pakistan says Islamabad has consistently emphasized dialogue with New Delhi
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Wednesday Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar initiated a brief handshake with Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in Dhaka, marking the first high-level contact between the two nuclear-armed rivals since their military conflict in May.
The encounter took place on the sidelines of the funeral of former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia, attended by senior officials and diplomats from multiple countries.
Ties between India and Pakistan have remained frozen since a four-day military confrontation in May, during which both sides exchanged missile, drone and air strikes before a ceasefire brokered by Washington.
“During Speaker NA Sardar Ayaz Sadiq’s visit to the Parliament of Bangladesh ... the Indian External Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar approached the Speaker National Assembly and [shook] hands,” Pakistan’s National Assembly said in a post on social media platform X.
It added that Jaishankar introduced himself to Sadiq during the brief interaction. India has not commented publicly on the exchange.
“It is noteworthy that Pakistan has consistently emphasized dialogue, restraint, and cooperative measures, including proposals for peace talks,” the post continued.
Tensions between the two neighbors escalated in April after a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir killed more than 20 tourists. New Delhi blamed Pakistan for supporting the attack, an allegation Islamabad denied, calling instead for an independent and transparent investigation.
Officials from both countries have largely avoided public interactions since the conflict, with senior figures refraining from handshakes or exchanges at international gatherings.
Sadiq was in Dhaka to attend Zia’s funeral and to convey condolences from Pakistan’s leadership and people. He also met Zia’s son Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, according to Pakistan’s high commission in Bangladesh.
Speaking to Pakistan’s Geo TV, Sadiq confirmed that Jaishankar approached him in full media glare and exchanged pleasantries.
Responding to a question about being photographed with the Indian minister, he said: “Cameras arrived with them. Our people took the photographs later.”
