Pakistan Cricket Board announces squad for the upcoming Sri Lankan Test series

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has revealed their 18-man squad for the upcoming test series against Sri Lanka. 

Leg-spinner, Yasir Shah is all set to mark his return to the national side, as Muhammad Wasim, the chief selector for the national men's team, announced the squad on Wednesday. 

During the last tour of Sri Lanka in 2015, Yasir Shah played a pivotal role in the team's 2-1 series win. Shah picked up 24 crucial wickets at 19.33. The Pakistan leg spinner played his last Test in August 2021 in West Indies, but he is all set to make a comeback to the national team after regaining full fitness. 

The PCB has included three openers, four middle-order batters, three all-rounders, two wicketkeepers, two spinners, and four fast bowlers for the forthcoming ICC World Test Championship fixtures. 

The squad will also include Salman Ali Agha, who has been phenomenal in his first-class cricket. He has made 4224 runs and picked up 88 wickets in total. In addition, Mohammad Nawaz has also been included after being ruled out of the recent Australia Test series due to an injury. 

Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka Tests: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain, wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood and Yasir Shah.

Having released the 18-man squad, Muhammad Wasim stated: "We have selected this squad considering the conditions in Sri Lanka and have equipped the team with the best possible resources. Our spin department is boosted with the return of Yasir Shah, who proved himself as a match-winner in Sri Lanka on our last tour, and Sajid Khan has made the way for him. The spin department also includes two spin all-rounders in Mohammad Nawaz and Salman Ali Agha and left-arm orthodox Nauman Ali,"

"Salman Ali Agha has shown consistent performances with the bat in the past three seasons, and he is a handy off-spin option. Our team has recently put strong performances in Bangladesh and although results against Australia were not ideal, we displayed solid cricket. For that reason, we have retained the core to instil consistency and continuity and have trimmed the squad size following the relaxation of Covid-19-induced travel restrictions,"

"These two matches are extremely crucial for our side as we have World Test Championship points at stake. I wish our boys all the best, and I am sure they will make us proud."

Before departing for Sri Lanka for the series on 6th July, Babar Azam and his side will convene in Islamabad for the final preparations of the series, with a seven-day camp as a warm-up session for the players organised from 26th June to 2nd July. 

Pakistan will be playing a three-day warm-up match between 11-13th July. The two Tests will be played in Galle and Colombo from 16th July and 24th July, respectively. 

In the last three series they have played in, Pakistan have won three matches, losing and drawing two games each. As a result, they are fifth in the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 standings.

After the series against Sri Lanka, Pakistan will host England and New Zealand for a three-match and two-match Test series, respectively, on their home turf.