LAHORE: Openers Ahmed Shehzad and Shan Masood were recalled along with paceman Ehsan Adil for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka as the national selectors made three changes to the Pakistan Test squad which toured Bangladesh in April.

The trio replaced off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, young opener Sami Aslam and the uncapped batsman Babar Azam.

Ajmal failed to impress with his remodelled bowling action and was left out of the two-Test series against Bangladesh which Pakistan won 1-0.

The 37-year-old Ajmal, who featured in a T20 game and two One-day Internationals in Bangladesh without much success, also missed out selection for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand since he was going through a rehabilitation process following the ICC ban on his illegal bowling action.

Sami, the former Pakistan Under-19 skipper until last year, is a somewhat surprise exclusion after having made his Test debut against Bangladesh, scoring 47 runs in three innings. His place has gone to fellow let-hander Shan who is fortunate to make the 15-man squad for the Sri Lanka Tests.

The Kuwait-born Shan earned the selectors’ nod mainly because of his form during Pakistan ‘A’s tour of Sri Lanka. After making 38 in the second unofficial Test against Sri Lanka, Shan ended the tour with 182 in the final four-day game at Pallekele.

In his four Test appearances Shan averages a modest 20.62 while scoring 162 runs including 75 — the 25-year-old’s only notable score to-date — on debut against South Africa at Abu Dhabi in October 2013.

The temperamental Shehzad was left out of Bangladesh Tests after the Pakistan team management complained of his lack of discipline and attitude in the World Cup, where Pakistan went out in the quarter-final. Umar Akmal was also sidelined for the same reasons.

A talented right-hander, Shehzad was in the one-day squad for the recent home series against Zimbabwe but was not in the playing XI for any of the three matches after making 55 and 18 in the two T20 Internationals against the Zimbabweans.

SHAN Masood

Shehzad, whose last Test innings against New Zealand saw the 23-year-old score a career-best 176 at Abu Dhabi in November last year, will partner Mohammad Hafeez during the Sri Lanka Tests if the tour selectors opt for two right-handers at the top of the order.

The middle-order has a familiar look with captain Misbah-ul-Haq, seasoned campaigner Younis Khan, vice-captain Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq along with wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed set to continue in the starting line-up for the opening Test at Galle on June 17 with Haris Sohail making the squad as the reserve batsman.

Ehsan will join front-line bowlers Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan and Mohammad Imran Khan in the four-man pace attack, while leg-spinner Yasir Shah and slow left-armer Zulfiqar Babar provide the spin options for skipper Misbah with Hafeez also coming into the equation with his off-spin bowling.

The remaining two Tests will be played at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo (June 25-29) and Pallekele (July 3-7).

EHSAN Adil

The selectors will name the squads for the subsequent ODI and T20 series against Sri Lanka. The five-match ODI series, beginning from July 11, is crucial for Pakistan since they have to win at least two games to remain in contention for the 2017 Champions Trophy in England.

Pakistan are scheduled to return home on Aug 2 at the conclusion of the two-match T20 series.

Meanwhile, in a press release issued by the PCB, chief selector Haroon Rashid said that the team was picked after taking inputs of head coach Waqar Younis and captain Misbah.

“Fawad Alam, Sami Aslam and some other players were also under consideration but were not included. However, they remain on the selectors’ radar,” Haroon observed. “Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan and Sohaib Maqsood are still rehabilitating after sustaining injuries. It is hoped that they would be available for selection in the near future.

“While picking the squad, the selectors considered suitability to play in varied playing conditions that Pakistan will face in Sri Lanka, potential to perform at the international level, current form and fitness.”

Haroon also indicated that the selection committee, which also includes Azhar Khan, Saleem Jaffer and Kabir Khan, has kept its options open in case a 16th player is needed considering humid weather conditions of Sri Lanka.”

Commenting on Shehzad’s inclusion, Haroon remarked: “I hope he has learned from his mistakes. One can’t keep him out for cricketing reasons and if he doesn’t follow discipline as per the team’s regime he would not be able to keep his place.”

Squad:

Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Azhar Ali (vice-captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Shan Masood, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Sarfraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Imran Khan, Ehsan Adil.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2015

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