Shan Masood: “Saud Shakeel emerged and scored runs, Salman Ali Agha performed well in domestic cricket and scored runs, and Abrar Ahmed took many wickets”
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Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood said middle order batsmen Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha, along with mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed, have risen fast in the last 12 months.
Shakeel, who is now the Test vice-captain, has become an integral part of the middle order with Salman, who is also used as a part-time spinner.
As for Abrar, he has become Pakistan’s first-choice spinner in the longest format.
“We earned rewards from our previous matches last year, including three against England, two against New Zealand, and three against Australia. Saud Shakeel emerged and scored runs, Salman Ali Agha performed well in domestic cricket and scored runs, and Abrar Ahmed took many wickets and played against England,” Masood was quoted as saying by PakPassion.
In the recent two-Test series against Bangladesh, Shakeel scored 159 runs, which included a top score of 141, at an average of 39.75.
As for Salman, he amassed 120 runs, which included a top score of 54, at an average of 40.
Abrar, meanwhile, took one wicket in one Test at an average of 123.
Pakistan failed to impress throughout the two-Test series and ended up being whitewashed 2-0.
Following this, Shakeel, Salman and Abrar all played in the Champions One-Day Cup, which was a domestic 50-over tournament held in Faisalabad.
Shakeel made 100 runs in four games for the Dolphins at an average of 25, while Salman finished with 222 runs in five matches for the Markhors, which included three centuries, at an average of 44.40.
As for Abrar, he claimed five wickets in four games for the Stallions at an average of 33.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a three-Test series against England, which will be played from October 7 to 28 in Multan and Rawalpindi.
Pakistan Squad for 1st Test against England: Shan Masood (captain), Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Salman Ali Agha, Aamer Jamal, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed