Ajmal has been omitted from the Test squad
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Pakistan have included opener Ahmed Shehzad, batsman Shan Masood and pace bowler Ehsan Adil in the Test squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka later this month.
However, off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was dropped after he failed to have much of an impact with his remodelled bowling action in the recent two-Test series against Bangladesh.
Babar Azam, Bilawal Bhatti and Sami Aslam were not included in the squad either, while Rahat Ali, Sohaib Maqsood and Sohail Khan are unavailable as they are all nursing injuries.
“While selecting the squad, the selection committee considered the following key areas: suitability to play in varied playing conditions, potential to perform at international level, current form and fitness, performance in the previous tours of Bangladesh and recently concluded Pakistan A team’s tour of Sri Lanka, and feedback from the team management on the performance of players on Bangladesh tour,” chief selector Haroon Rashid said.
He added: “Fawad Alam, Sami Aslam and some other players were also under consideration but could not be included but they remain on the selectors radar. Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan and Sohaib Maqsood are still on rehab after sustaining injuries and it is hoped that they would be available for selection in the near future. Selection committee has also kept its options open in case of need for the 16th member keeping in mind the extreme weather conditions in Sri Lanka.”
Pakistan Test squad: Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali (vc), Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Imran Khan, Ehsan Adil.