Faheem Ashraf and Hasan Ali were forced to leave the team due to injuries.
Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Wasim jnr have been added to Pakistan’s team for the first Test against Australia, which begins on March 4 in Rawalpindi. The signings come following the departures of Faheem Ashraf (groyne injury) and Hasan Ali from the squad (adductor strain).
Both Ashraf and Hasan, who played for Islamabad United in the recently ended Pakistan Super League 2022, are expected to recover fitness in time for the second rubber, which begins on March 12 in Karachi.
Meanwhile, when Iftikhar and Wasim arrive in Islamabad, they will be quarantined for three days in the team hotel before entering the team bubble. While both are talented players, considering the importance of Ashraf and Hasan in Pakistan’s Test team, they have enormous shoes to fill.
In the eight Tests he played last year, Ashraf, the seam-bowling all-rounder, established a solid case for being a regular red-ball unit member, while Hasan Ali had a record 2021, taking 41 wickets in as many games to finish the year as the third-leading wicket-taker in the format.
“After completing their three-day obligatory isolation, Faheem and Hasan will rejoin the group in the following week and integrate with the rest of the squad for the first Test.” Both are anticipated to be fully fit for the second Test, which will be held in Karachi from March 12 to 16, according to the PCB.
“Both Iftikhar and Wasim (selected for their versatility) will arrive in Islamabad tonight and begin their three-day isolation at the team hotel, following which they will join the rest of the squad after passing Covid tests.”
The trip, which will be Australia’s first to Asia since Mark Taylor’s squad in 1998, will include three Tests, as well as as many ODIs and a one-off T20I, and will conclude on April 4th.
Pakistan’s team for the first Test against Australia has been revised.
Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan (VC), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, and Zahid Mahmood are the captains.
Schedule of the trial tour:
Rawalpindi, 4–8 March: 1st Test
2nd Test, Karachi, March 12-16
3rd Test at Lahore, March 21-25