Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan cricket selectors, headed by former Test captain Inzamamul Haq, Monday named an unchanged squad for the upcoming three-match Australia Test series starting with a day-night Test in Brisbane on December 15. The second Test will be played from December 26-30 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, and the third Test from January 3-7, 2017, at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Sharjeel Khan and Mohammad Rizwan, who were Pakistan’s only inclusions for the ongoing Test series against New Zealand, have retained their places. With Misbahul Haq unavailable, Rizwan was handed his debut in the ongoing second Test against the Black Caps, but was dismissed for a first-ball duck in the first innings. Sharjeel did not play a game on the tour. Kamran Akmal, Usman Salahuddin and Asif Zakir are unlucky to not be in the squad after scoring big in an ongoing domestic tournament while all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has also not been considered as the selection panel has opted to stick with the young squad. Akmal, who played the last of his 53 Tests at Lord’s in London in 2010, has piled up 826 runs, while Zakir has 811 and Salahuddin 813.

36-year-old Hafeez, who recently went through a test to clear his bowling action in Australia, was expected to return to the mix of things after the struggles of openers Sami Aslam and Azhar Ali in the ongoing series against New Zealand. But Hafeez’s lack of runs in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and inability to bowl until he clears the ICC bio-mechanic test are the reasons that have gone against him. In six championship games prior to the current Super Eight round, the 36-year-old has accumulated just 287 runs for SNGPL.

Pakistan played both Tests in New Zealand with three fast bowlers and one spinner in Yasir Shah. With pitches in Australia not conducive to spin bowling, Pakistan are satisfied with all-rounder Rizwan as the back-up spin option. The two-Test series in New Zealand will be completed on Tuesday, and the Pakistan team will leave for Australia a day later where they play the first of three Tests. Chief selector Inzamam told reporters that continuity was necessary. “We have kept the same 16-member squad for the tour of Australia because we believe in continuity and think that the same team has done well in England so it will do well in Australia as well,” Inzamam added.

Pakistan drew a four-match series 2-2 in England in August this year, which briefly lifted them to number one in the Test rankings for the first time in their history. However, they are in danger of losing their first Test series against New Zealand in 31 years after failing the first Test in Christchurch by eight wickets. They were set a daunting 369-run target by New Zealand in the second Test in Hamilton on Monday. Inzamam said a lot of names were considered but after consultation with captain Misbah and coach Mickey Arthur the same squad was retained.

Pakistan squad:

Misbahul Haq (capt), Azhar Ali, Sami Aslam, Sharjeel Khan, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Mohammad Rizwan, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan and Imran Khan.