Naseem Shah back in red-ball cricket after 13 months as Pakistan names squad for Bangladesh tests

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah will return to red-ball cricket following a 13-month absence after the selectors named a 17-member squad on Wednesday for this month’s home test series against Bangladesh.

Shah missed the series against Australia earlier this year after he injured his right shoulder during the 2023 Asia Cup and required surgery.

Rawalpindi will host the first test from Aug. 21-25 while the second test will be played in Karachi from Aug. 30-Sept. 3.

The Pakistan Cricket Board said Bangladesh will arrive on Aug. 17 for the two-match series which is part of ICC’s World Test Championship.

Shan Masood is to captain Pakistan while middle-order batter Saud Shakeel was named vice-captain in place of Shaheen Shah Afridi.

The selectors recalled fast bowler Mohammad Ali, who last played against England in 2022, while uncapped batters Muhammad Hurraira and Kamran Ghulam were rewarded for their outstanding performances in domestic cricket.

Opening batter Imam-ul-Haq, all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, left-arm spinners Mohammad Nawaz and Noman Ali and off-spinner Sajid Khan, who toured Australia earlier this year, were dropped while fast bowlers Mohammad Wasim and Hasan Ali were not considered due to injuries.

Meanwhile, political unrest in Bangladesh has delayed the departure of its 'A' team to Pakistan. The side was due to arrive in Islamabad on Wednesday for two four-day games and three 50-over matches against Pakistan Shaheens.

The PCB has confirmed that Bangladesh 'A' will now arrive on Saturday and will wrap up the tour with the third and final 50-over game on Aug. 30. Islamabad will be hosting all the matches.

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Pakistan squad for test series: 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, Agha Salman, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket