Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan cricket selectors, headed by former Test captain Inzamamul Haq, Saturday announced a 14-member line-up for the first of three-Test series against the West Indies with Babar Azam’s inclusion being the highlight announcement. Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz has also earned maiden Test call-up. Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafeez and Shan Masood have been left out of the group that went to England this summer. After impressing with two half-centuries in his first Test in England, left-hand batsman Sami Aslam retained his spot in the line-up.

The Test will be the second day-night affair in the history of Test cricket, after Australia hosted their neighbours, New Zealand, for a pink ball Test atAdelaide last year. Middle-order batsman Babar, who scored record 360 runs in the recently concluded One-day International series on the back of three consecutive centuries, is expected to bat at one-down position in the absence of Mohammad Hafeez, who managed a seven-ball duck for PCB Patron’s XI in a warm-up contest against the West Indies. Babar made his ODI debut in the home series against Zimbabwe in May 2015, and has 886 runs in 18 matches. Babar averages 41.13 in first-class cricket, having scored 1522 runs in 41 innings for five different teams. Veteran batsman Younus Khan will miss out the pink ball affair as he is yet to fully recover from dengue.

The squad contains only five specialist batsmen in Azhar Ali, Sami Aslam, Babar, Misbahul Haq and Asad Shafiq, meaning Pakistan are likely to play Sarfraz Ahmed at No. 6, and all-rounder Nawaz at No. 7 or go in with five specialist bowlers. Chief selector Inzamamul Haq acknowledged that Pakistan had been struggling to find quality all-rounders and hoped Nawaz could be the answer. “We have been searching for one who can bat in the lower order and bowl as well. And if you look at Nawaz, he has got a good first-class record. It shows he has been promising with the bat and has competed as a bowler.” Nawaz has 1440 runs and 44 wickets, including three centuries and a seven-wicket haul, across 29 first-class matches.

Hafeez played three Tests on the tour of England, making 102 runs in six innings, before he was dropped for the last match at The Oval, which Pakistan won to draw the series 2-2. He played the one-off ODI againstIreland and the first one against England before he suffered a leg injury and returned home. After recovering Hafeez was asked by the selectors to play in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan’s first-class competition, and he made 68 in both innings of his first game for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines. Inzamam said this was because they didn’t want the players sitting on the bench for too long. “Those who are good but weren’t able to perform in England, we made them to play in first-class cricket. We didn’t want them to waste their time on the bench but rather they play some cricket get themselves back into form.”

Left-arm fast-bowler Mohammad Amir’s participation in the first Test remains likely, as the fast bowler is expected to join the team on Monday. The 24-year-old returned home and missed the final ODI of the series to attend to his mother, who was critically ill. However, the condition of Amir’s mother improved over the last few days, and therefore he is flying to Dubai on October 10. “My mother’s condition is better and I hope that she will recover very soon,” Amir told media. Amir, who recently resumed his career in the five-day format after a gap of five years on England tour, has so far represented the Green Caps in 18 Tests, where he picked 63 wickets at an average of 31.63.

Squad: Sami Aslam, Azhar Ali, Misbahul Haq (c), Sarfraz Ahmed, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Rahat Ali, Mohammad Amir, Imran Khan, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar and Mohammad Nawaz.