Babar Azam will stay at No.4 in the Test series with Bangladesh

STAR In the forthcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh, Pakistani batsman Babar Azam is probably going to stay at No. 4. There have been discussions about him replacing Captain Shan Masood in the hierarchy, but that is not on the table. Abdullah Shafique, on the other hand, is anticipated to stay in the starting lineup despite a subpar away series against Australia earlier in the year.

In the first Test, leg-spinner Usama Mir and young batsman Muhammad Hurraira are also anticipated to make their debuts. Pacers Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi, meanwhile, have assured their spots in the starting lineup. In the first Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan is expected to use three seamers and one spinner.

Babar Azam is under heat as well following a dismal series in which the cricket player was plagued by pacers in Australia.

“Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Mir Hamza will be the third fast bowler,” an insider said Geo News. Pakistan attaches great significance to the series versus Bangladesh. There were rumours that Masood will be removed as captain following their 0-3 loss to Australia. The series against Bangladesh is still crucial since it will probably determine if he stays as captain in the future, but the team management chose to give him some more time.

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It has also been announced that, due to ongoing renovations in preparation for the Champions Trophy, spectators would not be permitted to watch the second Test at Karachi’s National Stadium. After Bangladesh concludes their tour of Pakistan, they will visit India for a two-match Test series. The second Test is scheduled to start on August 30.

Pakistan squad

Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Aamir Jamal (subject to fitness), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Hurraira, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Bangladesh squad

Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Mahmudullah, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan. Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed and Khaled Ahmed.