Pakistan to announce Test squad against Sri Lanka tomorrow

As Pakistan get ready for their next assignment against Sri Lanka which is slated to begin from the 28th of September at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq stated that the squad for the Test series will be announced on Saturday i.e. tomorrow. Sri Lanka, the visitors had named their squad earlier this week.

While Sri Lanka have been facing a lot of injury troubles, Pakistan, on the other hand, have had their own share of fitness issues. Opener Azhar Ali and leg-spinner Yasir Shah seem doubtful for the series. Yasir failed to impress the team management at the training camp and thus may undergo a fitness test soon before a decision can be made.

Yasir is an important bowler

Speaking about the leg-spinner, Inzamam made sure that Shah was an integral part of the team. “Yasir Shah is an important bowler, that’s why we are waiting for his fitness test,” he also added that his fitness test couldn’t be taken today.

Azhar Ali who has been suffering from a knee injury has been showing improvement. However, Inzamam said that despite the development in fitness, the selectors may take a call whether to play or rest him until he has completely recovered. He also mentioned that the Pakistan team is likely to have five pacers in the squad.

It’s important to note that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had finalized a 16-member squad for the series earlier this month. The squad had both Azhar Ali and Yasir Shah. However, it didn’t have spinner Shadab Khan and experienced all-rounder, Mohammed Hafeez.

The squad that was earlier announced constituted with the likes of: Azhar Ali, Shan Masood, Sami Aslam, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Sarfraz Ahmed, Usman Salahuddin, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Asghar, Mohammad Abbas, Bilal Asif, Mir Hamza and Wahab Riaz.