Pakistan vs Australia: Sarfraz Ahmed announces the 12-man squad for the first Test

One day ahead of the first Test against Australia, Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed named the 12-man squad for the game. The team management has decided to bench Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Usman Salahuddin, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Rizwan for the game. Also, out of the twelve members, ten players are a certainty to make it to the final XI.

It will be a toss-up between Wahab Riaz and Mir Hamza for the eleventh position. It is highly likely that Wahab Riaz will grab the spot ahead of Hamza, who would make his debut if given the nod. There aren’t many surprise picks and the 12-men squad looks pretty much as expected.

The expected combinations

Mohammad Hafeez will return to the side after two long years. He could be opening the innings alongside Imam-ul-Haq. Azhar Ali will continue to bat at number three and will be crucial in the series. He will be followed by Babar Azam, skipper Sarfraz Ahmed and Asad Shafiq. There would be quite some pressure on Sarfraz to deliver with the bat as he didn’t have the best of times in the recent past.

Harris Sohail and Bilal Asif will fill in the shoes of the all-rounders in the side. This game will mark the Test debut for the 33-year-old Bilal. He represented Pakistan earlier in three ODIs back in 2013. The Sialkot-born player is capable with the bat and bowls right-arm off-break. Shadab Khan’s injury turned out to be a blessing in disguise for him.

Yasir Shah will be the only full-time spinner in the side. The Pakistani skipper earlier said that Shah would be one of his biggest weapons in the series. Shah was exceptional the last time when the Aussies played Pakistan in the UAE and will be hoping to replicate the same kind of success.

Mohammad Abbas, who has had a dream start to his Test career will obviously find a place in the side. The right-arm fast bowler has picked 42 wickets in just 8 Tests thus far and would be itching to get to the 50-wickets mark as soon as possible. Abbas could be sharing the new ball with either of Wahab Riaz or Mir Hamza. Riaz would be playing a Test match for Pakistan after over one year if he gets picked.

Here is the 12-man squad of Pakistan:

Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Bilal Asif, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Abbas & Wahab Riaz/Mir Hamza

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