LAHORE: Pakistan have announced a 19-member Test squad for the Test fixtures against the West Indies.
The two-Test series will commence at Sabina Park on Thursday, August 12. The squad was confirmed by Pakistan captain Babar Azam during his pre-series media conference.
The skipper said 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.
He said 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.
“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,” he said.
In the 17 Test series played between the two teams, Pakistan enjoys a 6-5 edge over the West Indies. However, the West Indies has a clear 4-1 lead over Pakistan in the eight series played in the Caribbean.
In the last meeting between in 2016-17, Pakistan ended their win drought in the Caribbean by clinching their first-ever Test series victory by 2-1.
In this series, Pakistan won the first Test in Jamaica by seven wickets before the host levelled the series in Barbados by winning the second Test by 106 runs.
In a nail-biting and thrilling series decider in Dominica, Pakistan won by 101 runs when Yasir Shah famously bowled Shannon Gabriel on the final ball of the penultimate over of the series with Roston Chase stranded at the non-striker’s end.
Yasir Shah, who was adjudged player of the series, is part of the Pakistan squad, while Gabriel will be missed by the West Indies.
Misbah-ul-Haq was Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in that series with 271 runs. He is presently the head coach and will aim to achieve the rare distinction of winning in the West Indies, both as captain and coach.
Pakistan Test squad:
Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abid Ali , Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Hasan Ali, Imran Butt, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Yasir Shah and Zahid Mahmood.
Fixtures:
12-16 August: 1st Test match, Sabina Park, Jamaica
20-24 August: 2nd Test match, Sabina Park, Jamaica
