KARACHI: The Misbah-ul-Haq-led Pakistan Test squad leaves for Colombo on Saturday to play a two-match series against Sri Lanka starting in Galle on Aug 6.
Besides the 15-member team, the squad also includes a 10-member team management.
Former Pakistan captain Moin Khan is the manager of the team while another ex-skipper and fast bowling legend Waqar Younis has returned as head coach.
Former Zimbabwe batsman Grant Flower will be making his maiden trip with the team as batting coach.
Pakistan’s batting will be relying on the opening trio of Ahmed Shehzad, Khurram Manzoor and Shan Masood with experienced pro Younis Khan along with Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Umar Akmal, Misbah and wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed to follow.
Pakistan’s Test squad has three left arm-fast bowlers — Junaid Khan, Rahat Ali and Wahab Riaz with right-armer Mohammad Talha completing the pace battery.
The visitors’ main weapon in their spin attack will be world-class off-spinner Saeed Ajmal alongside left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman.
The first Test will be played from Aug 6 to 10 and the second in Colombo from Aug 14 to 18. The Test rubber will be followed by a three-match ODI series. Remaining members of ODI squad will leave for Colombo on Aug 18.
Test squad:
Ahmed Shehzad, Khurram Manzoor, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Mohammad Talha, Junaid Khan, Rahat Ali, Wahab Riaz.
Team management:
Moin Khan (manager), Waqar Younis (head coach), Mushtaq Ahmed (spin bowling coach), Grant Flower (batting coach), Grant Luden (fielding coach-cum-trainer), Maj Azhar Arif (security manager), Mohammad Talha Butt (analyst), Usman Ghani (physiotherapist), Shahid Aslam (assistant to head coach), Mohammad Imran (masseur).
Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2014
