Shan Masood
Pakistan has surprised everyone with its selection for the first Test against Bangladesh starting on Wednesday, August 21 in Rawalpindi. The team has selected four fast bowlers, while batting all-rounder Salman Ali Agha is the only spin option, that too part-time. The surface of Pindi Stadium has been flat for Test matches or white ball games and hence, the role of the spinner may not be that big, but this will be the first time in 28 years that Pakistan will play without a professional spinner on its home ground. Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Shan Masood has given a big statement regarding such a decision.
Big statement by Shan Masood
Captain Shan Masood justified his selection in the pre-match press conference, saying that whenever we have played domestic cricket in Rawalpindi, the conditions have been favorable to fast bowlers and batsmen. Spin-bowling has not been such a big challenge. So we want to carry forward what we do in domestic cricket, and not implement something new, which we usually do not get in Rawalpindi.
Naseem Shah returns to Test team
Naseem Shah, who returns to the Test setup for the first time since July 2023, will partner Shaheen Shah Afridi with the new ball, with Mohammad Ali as the third pacer and Khurram Shahzad as the fourth pacer. When asked about Mohammad Ali’s return as a support to Shaheen and Naseem, Masood said he has been made part of the playing eleven because of his speed and his line-length ability.
Masood said that we considered who can best support Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, who are expected to handle the new ball tomorrow. We believe that Mohammad Ali is right for this role. He hits the ball hard on the deck, can move the ball in the air with the seam and has extra pace. It is not about one bowler being better than the other, but who is best suited to the conditions.
Pakistan’s playing XI for the first Test against Bangladesh:
Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (captain), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali.
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