Pakistan announce 16-member squad for the first Test against England

The Pakistan cricket team announced a strong 16-man squad on Tuesday for the first Test against England which is slated to start on 5th August. Pakistan might consider the option of playing two spinners with the playing 11 to be picked looking at the pitch conditions.

The Pakistan players would take the field almost after 5 months due to tensions rose during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Pakistan team though is hopeful of playing exciting cricket. They also have a good fast bowling attack which possesses a good mixture of experience and youth. Earlier a 20-man squad was picked which has been curtailed to 16 from which eventually the playing 11 will be finalized.

Pakistan has a mixed history of Test cricket in England. They have dealt with fixing controversies and have won a Test match at the mecca of cricket. Pakistan has lost games badly here but has also hurled winning surprises at the English team at times least expected by them. They have been ruthless in their wins. The biggest example of their huge series victory England in 1987 under the leadership of their present-day PM Imran Khan.

Babar Azam set to be the deputy of Azhar Ali

Babar Azam the charismatic young sensation will don the duties of vice-captain. He was in very good form in every format of the game for the past few months. He has been regularly lauded by the coaching staff and his teammates for his good game. Former cricketers have hailed him strongly to be the next cricketing sensation of Pakistan.

The Asian nation is very optimistic about the good performance of the team in this Test series. They have a good unit of players and a very legendary staff which can help them possess good competition in England. Pakistan in 2018 won a Test at Lord’s with Mohammad Abbas taking 8 wickets in that Test. But the conditions and time await different challenge altogether for them this time.

Earlier, England had announced a 14-man squad for the Test series with Joe Root as captain. Jonathan Trott though has been roped as the batting consultant for the English team for this series.

Here’s the squad: Azhar Ali (c), Babar Azam (vc), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Sohail Khan and Yasir Shah.