PCB announces Test squad for upcoming Australia tour

E-Paper | April 29, 2026

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday announced the 16-man lineup for Pakistan's upcoming Test tour of Australia.

The team has been finalised by chief selector Inzamam ul Haq and the National Selection Committee after consultations with the team's Head Coach and the Test captain Misbah ul Haq, the PCB said in a statement.

The Pakistan Test squad will play three Test matches on the tour. The first of these will be played from Dec 15-19 at Brisbane Cricket Ground, the second Test will be played from Dec 26-30 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, and the third Test will be played from Jan 3-7, 2017, at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The following players will be included in the squad:

Misbah ul Haq — Captain
Azhar Ali — Vice Captain
Sami Aslam
Sharjeel Khan
Younis Khan
Asad Shafiq
Babar Azam
Sarfaraz Ahmed
Mohammad Rizwan
Yasir Shah
Mohammad Nawaz
Mohammad Amir
Wahab Riaz
Rahat Ali
Sohail Khan
Imran Khan (Junior)

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Sport

Hafeez unlikely to be recalled

Pakistan will bounce back, says Inzamam

Southee, Babar share limelight as NZ remain in control

ExPat

Nov 28, 2016 04:04pm

Why on earth do the PCB announce squads whilst a Test is going on? The focus should be solely on the match and it is unfair for players to be playing - knowing that they've been dropped. I hope for the Aussie series, that the Board have a proper itinerary in place to allow the boys to acclimatize to Aussie wickets.

Recommend 0

ossy

Nov 28, 2016 04:05pm

I fail to understand inclusion of Mohamed Rizwan and Sharjeel in test squads. I would much rather have Fawad Alam instead. However, PCB does not believe in merit based selection somehow.

Recommend 0

Philosopher (from Japan)

Nov 28, 2016 04:16pm

Well if you keep selecting the same team who has defensive approach you will get the same results. White wash.

Recommend 0

Muhammad Kashif Iqbal

Nov 28, 2016 04:17pm

Junaid Khan, Fawad Alam should have been considered.

Recommend 0

khan

Nov 28, 2016 04:29pm

PCB should have announced the better squad for the fast pitches as our fast bowlers and batsmen playing in NZ like domestic club cricket.

Recommend 0

Bangush

Nov 28, 2016 04:29pm

Again! Fawad Alam is missing. Someone please explain what else he needs to prove to get picked up?

Recommend 0

H.H Shah

Nov 28, 2016 04:32pm

Sorry to say but this is just a TUK TUK Team. I am unable to understand the inclusion of Misbah / Azhar / Wahab / Younus. These are just players to be good on UAE pitches. Very disappointed selection. Junaid khan should be in place of Wahab & Fawad or some new blood in place of Azhar & Younus.

Recommend 0

Syed afrdid

Nov 28, 2016 04:37pm

Junaid?

Recommend 0

Tanvi hole

Nov 28, 2016 04:42pm

Unable to understand logic in selecting many old faces! This is journey to go bottom of test ranking !

Recommend 0

Khan

Nov 28, 2016 04:56pm

Again Mohammad Rizwan:(!!!!!!!!!!!

Recommend 0

Imran

Nov 28, 2016 05:40pm

Poor selection. Imran Khan junior, Sharjeel, Rizwan and Nawaz not up for this level. So many deserving not considered. I expect same result like NZ in Australia too.

Recommend 0

syed

Nov 28, 2016 06:40pm

Where is Fawad Alam????

Recommend 0

naveed,usa

Nov 28, 2016 06:57pm

@ khan Ok,could you please give some names ?

Recommend 0

naveed,usa

Nov 28, 2016 06:59pm

@Bangush There are better players than Fawad Alan to be picked for Pakistan.

Recommend 0

J. Gamble

Nov 28, 2016 07:06pm

Australia overhauled their team for the third test against SA, and won. It is about time for PCB to do the same.

Recommend 0

GREAT

Nov 28, 2016 07:16pm

Australian will run easily through this team. Whitewash on the cards.

Recommend 0

Nov 28, 2016 07:27pm

They are chosen again because Inzi makes sure that they will get maximum chance,no body claim that i have no chance,Like Rizwan case this is the first time he played so he deserve full chance before left out.i think for now this is the suitable team.they can't drop wahab coz only one who has pace and can give trouble to aussie on hard tracks which are totally different to newzeland.you have automatically revamp after aus series coz middle order misbah place and if younus failed he will also go. So, do not worry many new faces will come after this tour.

Recommend 0

Seneca

Nov 28, 2016 07:31pm

Its time to move on from Younis. He is not producing and will no improve he is too old. It is time to move on from him and I think in the next 6-12 months to let Misbah retire. Babar Azam and Asad Shafiq look good enough to fill in their shoes. Azhar Ali is way too inconsistent. How someone can score 300 and then zeros most of the time is confusing. Maybe he shouldn't be an opener.

Recommend 0

J. Gamble

Nov 28, 2016 07:33pm

@GREAT -It is just your wishful thinking.

Recommend 0

Abdul

Nov 28, 2016 07:40pm

Whatever team is selected, the result will be 3-0 in favor of the hosts. The gap between the teams is too wide (for Australian pitches).

Recommend 0

ammar

Nov 28, 2016 07:41pm

@Philosopher (from Japan) well said this is insanity

Recommend 0

J. Gamble

Nov 28, 2016 07:44pm

@Abdul -Why do you sound so hopeless?

Recommend 0

Jamal Langra

Nov 28, 2016 07:51pm

Fawad Alam is a domestic player not suited for international exposure. He can't even hit a boundary with concerted effort.

Recommend 0

nauman

Nov 28, 2016 07:57pm

Umer akmal should have been selected.A far better batsman. Plays all over the world only our selectors don't like him

Recommend 0

Waqas Hassan

Nov 28, 2016 07:59pm

Fawad Alam for Rizwan - Junaid Khan for Wahab

Recommend 0

saber

Nov 28, 2016 07:58pm

Is it possible , Inzi look little normal human...

Recommend 0

aftab@uk

Nov 28, 2016 08:00pm

I feel like the reason for not including Kamran Akmal is that he will have to be in the eleven given his prolific form, experience and the fact that he is also a regular, albeit faulty, keeper. I smell politics on part of Misbah here, it seems to be related to his retirement.

Recommend 0

J. Gamble

Nov 28, 2016 08:15pm

@saber =Makes no sense.

Recommend 0

PAKISTAN FIRST

Nov 28, 2016 08:21pm

I guess Inzi is quite useless since he is following up on the same buddy system that he was accustom to. We need to replace him with Amir Sohail and he will show you how the selection is made. I feel sorry for so many deserving players who are sitting on the bench and being wasted because of this incompetent PCB and his cronies

Recommend 0

PAKISTAN FIRST

Nov 28, 2016 08:25pm

@Jamal Langra : You need to get your facts straight and check his offshore record is far better than Azhar Ali, Hafeez and even YK. PCB must be running with the folks like you otherwise in other countries he will be in the national team. It is quite pathetic to see such comments that does not have any merit or bases

Recommend 0

The_Truth

Nov 28, 2016 08:24pm

@ossy Ya sharjeel khan's inclusion is really questionable. But Rizwan Khan is a good prospect for wicketkeeper batsman . He has good first class records. And if sarfaraz is injured or anything he is going to be the replacement . He is a good batsman better than Sarfaraz.

Recommend 0

shabut

Nov 28, 2016 08:44pm

Mohammad Nawaz, on what merit? And where as Haris Sohail disappeared?

Recommend 0

Masood Hussain

Nov 28, 2016 08:44pm

It is a well balanced side,Hope will do better,can't understand Fawad Alam problem.

Recommend 0

Erum

Nov 28, 2016 10:39pm

@Jamal Langra , If Fawad cant hit a boundary, who else in the current team is hitting boundries??? Also, it is not T20 squad where you need powerful hitters. In Test, we need someone who can take singles and doubles and play the role of an anchor.

Recommend 0

Ossy

Nov 28, 2016 10:46pm

@The_Truth Reasonable point. But that goes out of the window when team plays Rizwan as a specialist batsman instead.

Recommend 0

Asghar Chandio Larkana

Nov 28, 2016 11:22pm

Why Junaid Khan, Fawad Alam ignored, the tuk tuk team non-performer selected, These two best players, should have been considered. Did these old age Misbah and his mister tuk tuk Azhar what ground what performance selected Misbah is 42 yrs old and Azhar nonperformer. Did Inzi prove his selection.

Recommend 0

Fez

Nov 29, 2016 02:05am

The best bowler in that attack is Imran Khan, hands down. Followed closely by Sohail Khan and Amir. Question to ask this so called selector is where is Junaid? Where is Asif? Where is Imad Wasim and where is Fawad Alam? By the way where is Ahmed Shehzad? Inzamam you need to quit your post and accept you have no clue. Just like when you were captain.

Recommend 0

kingatwill

Nov 29, 2016 03:42am

muhammad irfan was not selected for the aus nz series where he would have been most useful. wow!

Recommend 0

Jamal Langra

Nov 29, 2016 03:52am

@PAKISTAN FIRST. Fawad Alam has played only 3 tests so far. Out of those 3 tests, 2 were played in SL where he scored a century. Other three innings in SL were pathetic. His sole test in NZ was also 29, 5 respectively. There is no doubt he is probably one of the best in domestic arena. He reminds me of Mansoor Akhtar in late 70's & 80's. He may become a good utility player in ODI but his bowling skills are questionable!

Recommend 0

ammar

Nov 29, 2016 09:42am

This team will flop in Australia and Australian are playing pretty average cricket

Recommend 0

Love Your Country

Nov 29, 2016 10:33am

@ExPat - How many days did the boys get in NZ for practice and acclimatisation - nobody will ask because it points the finger at the PCB management.

Recommend 0

Omer

Nov 29, 2016 02:02pm

fawad alam must be selected now after seeing this performance. He can get the team out from crucial stages..

Recommend 0

Dr.Cajetan Coelho

Nov 29, 2016 05:23pm

All the best to Misbah and his boys.

Recommend 0

Shazad

Nov 29, 2016 10:00pm

@naveed,usa: For instance? Give me name of any Pakistani players who has better First class average than Fawad or player who made century in his first test and was first Pakistani to make century in away test on debut, still, he was given only 3 test? It is just like, at the start of their career. Australia dropping Khawja or NZ dropping Raval. But Pakistan is Pakistan, where merit, talent and hard work never pays.

Recommend 0

Shazad

Nov 29, 2016 10:07pm

@Jamal Langra: That is why he made century in his test debut and was first Pakistani player to make century in away match. Just imagine,. can I call someone Langra when I never seen him walking? Won't that be idiocy of me? If domestic cricket is not a criteria to get selected in team, than what is it, visiting selectors and cricket management and giving him present or ...? Fawad has proven himself in test (actually in his debut test), proven himself in ODIs and T20s, has highest first class average, List A average and Twenty20 average ... so, he should be given extended chance in test, ODI and T20s instead of giving pathetic players continuous place in team when they should not be in team.

Recommend 0

notch

Nov 30, 2016 03:17am

let inzi bat

Recommend 0

J.Niaz

Nov 30, 2016 03:25am

I suppose "Junior" has been added after Imran Khan to ensure that he is not confused with the former Captain.

Recommend 0

Qamar Siddiqui

Nov 30, 2016 03:20pm

There will be no shame loosing to Newzeland (or far that matter to anyone) if there is a fight and grace in defeat, however that was not the case!!! Our seamer were no threat to batsmen at all and our batsmen were lame ducks!!! So more humiliating is no notice of loosing by breaking 30 years record and no accountability for selecting the whole team as there is no talent or the guys have done great job!! Inzy and co please learn something from Australia .... non performers have to go and other talented folks given the chance .... even Adam Voges who got amazing average before recent failures is gone !!! For that matter even it would be great if Inzy just focus on his relegious duties and resign from the post without any delays

Recommend 0

Abdul wahab

Nov 30, 2016 05:07pm

No specialist spinner except Yasir Shah ??

Recommend 0

canada1

Dec 01, 2016 07:38am

Only the venue is different. Get ready it is the same game , same players you'll get the same white wash result.

Recommend 0

Rabbani

Dec 01, 2016 11:49am

@H.H Shah .. Juniad is bowling well BPL, He should be included.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

NexGen Auto (Nishat Group) to Introduce iCAUR in Pakistan

As one of Pakistan’s leading business groups, Nishat Group operates across key sectors including textiles, cement, banking, insurance, power and agriculture.

NTL and Unikrew Solutions establish additional strategic understanding for potential transformation opportunities

Collaboration brings together complementary strengths to jointly pursue high-impact opportunities in Pakistan and international markets.

Indus Cloud signs strategic partnership agreement with PTCL to deliver cloud excellence

The partnership marks a significant step in Indus Cloud’s and PTCL’s joint efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s cloud and data centre infrastructure and expand access to enterprise-grade digital services in the country.