LAHORE: As chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq was busy consulting Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed and head coach Mickey Arthur on Saturday to finalize a 16-member squad for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England, no major surprises were expected.

The squad is likely to be announced by either Sunday or Monday, according to sources close to the selectors.

Pakistan will take on Ireland in the latter’s inaugural Test at Dublin from May 11 before the tourists face England in two Tests (Lord’s from May 24 and Headingley, June 1-5).

Sources told Dawn that dashing opener Fakhar Zaman is most likely to get picked ahead of Test specialist Sami Aslam. Sami, a talented young opener who had performed well in his 13 Tests, scoring 758 runs at 31.58 with seven half-centuries, hasn’t come up to the mark with his fitness levels.

Selectors likely to name squad for Ireland, England series today

Fakhar, who has so far played only in shorter formats of the game, could be a gamble selection.

In one of his interviews to Dawn, Arthur had disclosed that Fakhar is a talented cricketer and he foresees the left-hander in the role of a Test opener.

Sources further said the selectors were also considering the option of including one extra batsman or a fast bowler. And if they opt for a batsman then the long-discarded Fawad Alam is in line to make a comeback.

On the other hand, the selectors could bring in the uncapped left-arm paceman Mir Hamza, who was in the Test squad during the series against Sri Lanka in the UAE late last year but could no get a chance.

Fawad has totally been ignored by the selectors and last appeared in a one-day match against Bangladesh in Dhaka in 2015.

The media is backing Fawad’s credentials to add to his three Tests in 2009 because he has shown good form in the domestic tournaments. Even PCB chairman Najam Sethi had to finally intervene to discuss Fawad’s issue with Inzamam and his panel.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that Azhar Ali, Fakhar, Imam-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail and Usman Salahuddin are most likely to be included as batsmen with Fawad being an outside option.

The pace attack is likely to be comprising Moha­mmad Amir, Rahat Ali, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas and all-rounder Fahim Ashraf with Hamza as the alternative.

Shadab Khan and Mohammad Asghar are most likely to be included as the two spinners with Sarfraz as the solitary wicket-keeper/batsman in the squad.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2018