Salman Agha, Ali Usman recalled Pakistan for SL Tests, Rizwan and Imam still out

Pakistan have brought Salman Ali Agha and left-arm spinner Ali Usman back into the line-up for their upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka at home in November. The duo was among them seven players sent back to Pakistan during the turbulent tour of England in Augustafter the team’s defeat in the second Test at Lord’s. England completed the series 3–0.

Agha has since made an impressive comeback to both domestic and international cricket. He smashed a triple century in a first-class match before following it up with a hundred against Sri Lanka in the ongoing ODI tri-series.

Imam-ul-Haq and wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan, who were also sent home before the end of the England tour, were not included in the Test squad.

The two matches against Sri Lanka will be played in Rawalpindi from November 9 and Lahore from November 17. Both matches count towards the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, with Babar Azam continuing to captain.

Pakistan also gave opportunities to three uncapped players: Mohammad Taha, Sameer Minhas and Mohammad Suleman. Their selections follow strong performances in the recent President’s Trophy Grade I tournament.

Taha was the top batsman in the competition, amassing 730 runs in seven matches, including three centuries. Suleman also registered three hundreds and scored 625 runs, while Minhas impressed with 405 runs in his first season of first-class cricket.

Pakistan’s position in the WTC ranking remains worrisome. They are currently ninth and last among the nine participating teams, having managed just two wins against seven defeats.

The Sri Lanka series will be followed by two home Tests against New Zealand early next year, giving Pakistan one last chance to end the current WTC cycle on a stronger note.

PAKISTAN TEST SQUAD in Sri Lanka

Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Ghazi Ghori, Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Taha, Razaullah, Saad Baig, Salman Ali Agha, Sameer Minhas, Saud Shakeel.

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