Pakistan confirm 19-player squad for West Indies tests

Kingston, Jamaica

Pakistan have announced a 19-member Test squad for the ICC World Test Championship fixtures against the West Indies.

The two-Test series will commence at the Sabina Park on Thursday. The squad was confirmed by Pakistan captain Babar Azam during his pre-series media conference, held via teleconference, on Wednesday.

Pakistan Test squad: Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain) (wicketkeeper) (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Abid Ali (Central Punjab), Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Imran Butt (Balochistan), Mohammad Abbas (Southern Punjab), Naseem Shah (Central Punjab), Nauman Ali (Northern), Sajid Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper) (Sindh), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shahnawaz Dahani (Sindh), Yasir Shah (Balochistan) and Zahid Mahmood (Southern Punjab).

“Looking at the likely team composition for the two Tests and giving preference to wellbeing of the players, it has been agreed to release Haris Rauf and Mohammad Nawaz so that they can return to Pakistan and spend quality time with their families.

This will also give them a few extra days to relax, regroup and recharge for the commitment ahead, which commence with the series against Afghanistan,” BabarAzam said.

“The past 12 months have been tough and the cricket that lays ahead is equally challenging and demanding. As such, we need to have as many fresh bodies as practically possible without comprising on the team results and performances.

“Away Test series are always challenging and it is our endeavour to be a high-performing side on away series.

Red-ball cricket is the pinnacle format of the game and is a test of skill, endurance, technique, patience and fitness.

Test cricket does not allow you to show complacency at any stage and this is what we will like to achieve at the Sabina Park over the next couple of weeks.—APP