Pakistan have recalled pace bowler Hasan Ali and named uncapped batsman Kamran Ghulam in their 16-member squad for the two-Test series against New Zealand, beginning in Karachi on Monday. (More Cricket News)
Kamran, who was earlier named in Pakista♑n’s Test squad but didn't get a chance to make his debut, replaces veteran Azhar Ali.
Ali retired from T𝐆est cricket after playing his final m𒁃atch against England in Karachi earlier this week.
The national selectors have also released pace bowler Muhammad Ali and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf from the Pakistan squad following꧑ their 3-0 whitewash against England🌳 on Monday.
Hasan, who last played a T⛦est against Sri Lanka in Galle in July, has appeared in 21 Tests for his country taking 77 wickets.
The selectors also didn't include fast bowlers, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf in the squ🌊ad as both are still recovering from respective injuries.
Fast bowler Naseem Shah, who missed t🐲he Multan and Karachi Tests against England due to a shou🍃lder niggle, has been declared fit and was retained in the squad.
The announcement of the squad comes amidst strong speculations that an overhaul is going to be carried o💟ut on Wednesday in the PCB on the orders of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif♌, who is the chief patron of the board.
This includes a change in the selection committee and former chair♋man Najam Sethi replacing Ramiz Raja as the PCB head.
The New Zealand squad, whicꦚh will reach Karachi on Thursday morning, 🔜is the third major team to tour Pakistan for a Test series this year after Australia and England.
Test squad: Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar 🦩Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood, and Zahid Mehmood
Umpire a🍎nd match refere💫e appointments for the series:
26-30 December - 1st Test, Karachi. Alex Wharf and Aleem Dar (on-field), Ahsan Rཧaza (third umpire), Asif Yaqoob (fourth umpire); Mohammad Javed Malik (match referee)
3-7 January – 2nd Test, Multan. Alex Wharf and Aleem Dar (on-field), Ahsan Raza (third umpire), Rashid Riaz (fourth umpire); David Boo�ﷺ�n (match referee)
10 January – 1st ODI, Karachi. Aleem Dar and Asif Yaqoob (on-field), Ahsan Raza (third umpire), Faisal Afri🅷di🤡 (fourth umpire); David Boon (match referee)
12 January – 2🍌nd ODI, Karachi. Aleem Dar and Rashid Riaz (on-field),ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Faisal Afridi (fourth umpire); David Boon (match referee)
14 Jaཧnuary – 3rd ODI, Karachi. Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza (on-field), Rashid Riaz (third umpire), Faisal Afridi (fourth umpire); David Boon (match referee).