Pakistan have brought back Shan Masood and called up Haris Rauf for the upcoming Test series against Australia

 

Pakistan have called up Haris Rauf and brought back Shan Masood, naming them in their 16-man crew for the home Tests against Australia, beginning in Rawalpindi on March 4.

Pakistan crew for Australia Tests: Babar Azam (skipper), Mohammad Rizwan (bad habit commander), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Zahid Mahmood

Saves: Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah

Rauf, who was essential for the Test crew in the series against South Africa and Zimbabwe last year, replaces off-spinner Bilal Asif in the crew. Asif was essential for Pakistan's crew for the visit through Bangladesh however didn't get a game there. His last Test trip stays the one against New Zealand in 2018.

Masood has been taken back to make up for the shortcoming left by Abid Ali, who is as yet in his recovery interaction subsequent to being determined to have Acute Coronary Syndrome. Strangely, Yasir Shah observes a spot in the five-man saves, close by any semblance of Naseem Shah and Mohammad Abbas. Yasir last played a Test in August 2021, in West Indies.

"We have picked consistency for the significant home series against Australia and changes have just been made where totally essential," Chief selector Muhammad Wasim said. "This is to give the young men certainty, reward them for their noteworthy exhibitions in the more drawn out rendition of the game in 2021 and keep on building the side for what's to come.

"These are the best accessible, most gifted and in-structure players in the homegrown circuit. I'm certain they will set up a great execution against an imposing Australia side."

The PCB likewise affirmed that previous spinner Saqlain Mushtaq will carry on as lead trainer for an additional a year, while Shaun Tait has additionally been named as quick bowling trainer for a similar period. Mohammad Yousuf in the interim will fill in as batting mentor for the Australia series.