Published: Oct 06, 2015, 12:37 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 06, 2015, 12:39 PM (IST)
Shoaib Malik was added as the 16th member of the Test squad against England, chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Shaharyar Khan confirmed. The national selection committee headed by Haroon Rashid recommended the all-rounder for the UAE tour, which is scheduled to begin at Abu Dhabi on October 13. Manager Intikhab Alam had made the request to the chief selector, saying that he and head coach Waqar Younis were of the same view over retaining Shoaib Malik given his present form in Twenty20 International (T20I)and the One-Day Internationals (ODIs). Misbah-ul-Haq will lead Pakistan in the three Tests series. Live Cricket Score Pakistan ‘A’ vs England XI 2015, 1st warm-up match at Sharjah, Day 2: ENG XI posted 286
According to pakpassion.net, Rashid said, “Following Intikhab Alam’s request, I spoke with my fellow selectors and there was unanimity over retaining Malik keeping in mind his current batting form and the off-spin bowling option that could be handy in the all-important forthcoming Test series against England.”
Earlier he hinted the inclusion of either two left-arm spin bowlers earlier in the month— Zafar Gohar and Mohammad Asghar. “In the light of Misbah-ul-Haq recommendations, we have kept the options open for the 16th player in the Test squad against England, picking up two left-arm spin bowlers namely Zafar Gohar and Mohammad Asghar for the brace of practice games against England prior to the Test matches in the UAE; whoever amongst the two performs well would be added to the Test squad,” the selector had said.
Gohar even bagged a three-wicket haul in the first warm-up match, removing the big names like English skipper Alastair Cook, Jos Butler and Ian Bell, while Asghar went wicket-less. The match is underway, with Pakistan A batting after England XI posted 286 for five in the first innings.
Pakistan Test squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Shoaib Malik, Ahmed Shehzad, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Fawad Alam, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Wahab Riaz, Imran Khan, Rahat Ali, Junaid Khan.
