Abdullah Fazal and Azan Awais (X Photo) NEW DELHI: Pakistan on Friday introduced two new batting faces as Abdullah Fazal and Azan Awais received their first Test caps for the opening Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka.With former skipper Babar Azam ruled out with a left knee injury, Pakistan turned to youth by drafting two promising top-order left-handed batsmen in the playing XI for the first match of the two-Test series.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Pakistan captain Shan Masood won the toss and elected to bat first at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, but much of the pre-match attention centered around the two debutants.
Who are Abdullah Fazal and Azan Awais?
Abdullah Fazal, the 23-year-old opening batsman from Karachi, has built a strong reputation in Pakistan’s domestic circuit with consistent performances in first-class cricket. In 25 first-class matches, Fazal scored 1828 runs at an average of 41.54. His impressive record includes four centuries and 10 fifties with a career best score of 182.
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Is everything wrong with Suryakumar Yadav’s wrist? | Exclusive visualsHe is joined in the XI by 21-year-old Azan Awais from Sialkot, another highly-rated left-handed batsman considered one of Pakistan’s brightest red-ball prospects. Awais enjoyed an excellent start to his first-class career, scoring 2673 runs in 33 matches at an excellent average of 48.60. His tally includes 10 hundreds and nine fifties, while his highest score remains an unbeaten 203.Pakistan’s batting line-up for the Test includes Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Fazal, Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan.The visitors also welcomed back veteran pacer Mohammad Abbas along with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali, while Noman Ali was selected as the only specialist spinner.Meanwhile, Bangladesh brought back fast bowler Taskin Ahmed to make his first Test appearance since December 2024 after recovering from injury. The hosts’ bowling attack also features Nahid Rana, Ebadot Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam.The series marks an important phase for Pakistan as they begin to rebuild their Test side with a younger batting core.
BAN vs PAK playing XIs:
Bangladesh: Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Nahid Rana.Pakistan: Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Fazal, Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Noman Ali, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas.
