Uncapped Sohail, Imran make Pakistan's Test squad
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KARACHI: Pakistan included three uncapped players on Saturday in their squad for the two-Test series against Australia in the United Arab Emirates.
Batsman, Haris Sohail, pace bowler Imran Khan and leg spinner Yasir Shah were named in a squad trimmed down to 16.
The 27-year-old paceman Khan, a prolific wicket taker at domestic level, left-arm paceman Rahat Ali, Mohammad Talha and Ehsan Adil, all of whom have played Tests before, are the fast bowlers in the squad in the absence of frontline bowlers Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz who are nursing knee injuries.
Sohail, a left-hander, scored a century in the four-day tour match against Australia in Sharjah which concluded in a surprising victory for Pakistan A on Saturday.
Shah played one-day internationals against Zimbabwe in 2011.
Veteran opener Taufeeq Umar was recalled to the squad and Mohammad Hafeez has recovered from a hand injury.
The 33-year-old Umar, who played the last of his 43 Tests in Sri Lanka two years ago, is one of the four openers in the squad with fit-again Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad likely to get into the final eleven
“The side is a nice blend of experience and youth and it has been selected keeping in mind the World Cup 2015,” chief selector Moin Khan said in a statement.
Pakistan have not defeated Australia in a Test series since 1994.
The first Test begins on Oct. 22 in Dubai.
Pakistan squad: Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Taufeeq Umar, Younus Khan, Shan Masood, Haris Sohail, Misbah-ul-Haq (Capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Ehsan Adil, Muhammad Talha, Imran Khan, Rahat Ali, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar.
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Comments (33) Closed
Oct 18, 2014 09:25pm
Why in the world does Hafeez keep returning to the test side?? Poor selection once more.
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Oct 18, 2014 09:30pm
Correction: Pakistan has defeated Australia in test in England.
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Oct 18, 2014 09:30pm
But no one will come to play in Pakistan ...
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Oct 18, 2014 09:44pm
Ehsan Adil should also be included and get experience. We need him for ODI world cup next year. He will be very useful as right hand outswing/seam bowler for Australian wickets. His first class avg is 19 runs per wicket.
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Oct 18, 2014 09:53pm
Where is babar azam?very poor selection.
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Oct 18, 2014 10:06pm
Pakistan did defeat Aussies in Year 2010...
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Oct 18, 2014 10:19pm
Great job guys!
This is your chance to prove yourself. Please play so good that you secure your place in this permanently.
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Oct 18, 2014 10:39pm
Shan Masons must be groomed as an opener for both tests and odi's going forward to partner Ahmed shahzad
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Oct 18, 2014 10:41pm
One thing I don't understand at all. Why wasn't Sami Aslam included in the A-team which played warm-up match against Australia? You include him in the preliminary test squad but then you don't even select him for the side match. Some very strange dispositions. Good that Haris is in the squad but shame that no way he will get a game here as the playing line is already decided.
Ahmad Shehzad, Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Younis, Misbah, Asad, Sarfraz, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar, Rahat and Talha. With this inexperience of bowling unit, they are made to play Hafeez.
But happy to know that we have talent in Ahmad Shehzad, Baber Azzam, Sami Aslam, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Amir and Junaid Khan who can get us going in the next decade or so. PCB needs to unearth a top quality allrounder and a spinner or two to complete the set.
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Oct 18, 2014 10:56pm
Test team selected with ODI world Cup in mind!? there goes planning...
I think I missed something by the way...some one please update me guys, what happened to Mohd. Irfan? (injured or not in Moin's ODI plans ;)). Given that Hafeez (though in my humble opinion should not be played, but dont expect Misbah to be bold, ever) is back Haris Sohail may not get to play at least in the first test, however it is a good chance for the young fast bowlers such as Ehsan, Rahat, Imran and Talha (At least three of them should get a chance to play and perhaps Yasir Shah (its been quite some time we have had a proper leg spinner in our test team).
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Oct 18, 2014 11:03pm
Misbah and Azhar should not be in the Squad, for non payment of taxes to Pakistan.
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Oct 18, 2014 11:51pm
Pakistan defeated Australia in a Test match in England 2010. It was a two Test Pakistan's "Home" series against them. How can anyone forget Ponting Bhangra to Mohammed Amir?
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Oct 19, 2014 12:14am
I am unable to understand why Hafeez is back in the test squad?
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Oct 19, 2014 12:17am
@Ali Test 'series' buddy! haha settle down! Hopefully this will be it
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Oct 19, 2014 12:25am
Fail to understand what test cricket has to do with WC 2015 that Moin Khan is making a statement that team has been chosen keeping the mega event in mind. Typical Pakistani mentality of not doing anything when it matters and keep on planning for something that they can never get their hands on!
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Oct 19, 2014 02:03am
At long last performance is rewarded. Induction of some new blood in the team. Hopefully we will turn the tables from the ODIS 0-3 to 3-0 in the test matches.
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Oct 19, 2014 02:39am
Good for Pak cricket, throw out expiry items and get fresh ones with long expiry date.
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Oct 19, 2014 07:03am
First and foremost, try to control the influence of TJ group (Tariq Jameel) on selection and recruitment of players.
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Oct 19, 2014 09:19am
Pakistan won a test against Australia in England last time they played, where aamir blew them away.....So the stat saying pakistan has not won a test against Australia since 1995 is wrong..........
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Oct 19, 2014 09:46am
Mark my words. Taufeeq Umar will disappoint once again. But, once again, we will not learn from this experience. Such is life.
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Oct 19, 2014 11:11am
Unable to understand why Hafeez is in the test squad. He is valuable player for ODI and T20 but simply doesn't belong to test.
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Oct 19, 2014 11:35am
Why Misbah,Hafeez & Taufeeq, make Sarfarz as captain
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Oct 19, 2014 12:02pm
@ILLINIDOC There are only two tests, how come you win by 3-0??
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Oct 19, 2014 12:05pm
you know why Pak A team won the match because there were no OLD GUNS in the team especially Misbah, Hafeez, Younus & Azhar Ali. What a pathetic team selection. Anyways Good Luck team
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Oct 19, 2014 12:10pm
No Baber Azam the who made century? you can see transparency vividly...........!
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Oct 19, 2014 07:06pm
Where is Fawad Alam in the squad?
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Oct 19, 2014 08:35pm
In 2010, Pakistan had beaten Australia in a test match.
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Oct 20, 2014 04:50am
glad to see some new blood in the squad.
Fail to understand why Hafeez and Younis are in the squad. Other players such as sohaib maqsood must be groomed, I don't see him in the squad.
Regardless, this is better than the past. At lease some new names in the squad. Good luck to Imran Khan, Haris Sohail and such. Good luck Pakistan
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Oct 20, 2014 06:51am
I think team looks balance on paper. It is team management's job to give chance to Harris Sohail and Yaser shah.
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Oct 20, 2014 07:00am
I hope Harris Shoail and yasir shah will get chance at least in second test.
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Oct 20, 2014 07:07am
I can't wait for the useless oldies to retire and go away, Hafeez, Afridi, Misbah, Umar Gul, and even Yunus. They should groom the following players for the future. They may loose initially but they are loosing anyway. Future would be very bright.
Future team will be: Shehzad, Sami Aslam (the future Saeed Anwar), Mukhtar Ahmed ( a technically very good opening batsman and a leg break bowling all rounder) Asad Shafiq (vice captain), Haris Sohail, Sohaib Maqsood, Sarfaraz ( captain) (he already captains PIA), Mohd. Aamir, Talha, Sadaf Husain and Raza Hasan.
This team has 7 very good batsmen including Sarfaraz, 3 very good fast bowlers, Left arm spinner, leg break bowler and Sohaib can be further honed for his off break bowling skills.
Junaid, Wahab Riaz and Usman Qadir can be back up bowlers in case of injury.
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Oct 21, 2014 03:12am
Its better to let the so-called professor rest in this series against Australia or maybe for good because he has neither the talents nor the youth to be tried and tested over and over again with zero results.
In lieu of him, it will be an excellent idea to give a youngster an exposure and opportunity to play in the two test series. Maybe, Harris Sohail could repeat his wonderful batting performance in the test match too?
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Oct 21, 2014 08:45am
“The side is a nice blend of experience and youth and it has been selected keeping in mind the World Cup 2015,” chief selector Moin Khan said in a statement.
did anyone tell Moin this is the test series and w/c is a 50 over afair!!
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