Pakistan has unveiled their playing XI for the opening Test match against Bangladesh, set to commence on August 21 in Rawalpindi. This match marks the beginning of a two-match series, which is part of the ICC World Test Championship.
The team will be led by Shan Masood, who takes on the captaincy role, with Saud Shakeel serving as vice-captain. The Pakistan batting lineup against Bangladesh features promising talents such as Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub, alongside experienced players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who will also don the wicketkeeping gloves.
The middle order is bolstered by the inclusion of Salman Ali Agha, while the pace attack will be spearheaded by Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah. Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali complete the bowling lineup, offering a blend of pace and skill.
Notably, Abrar Ahmed, Kamran Ghulam, and Aamer Jamal were released from the squad earlier due to various reasons, narrowing down the selection to the current XI. The team management is confident in the chosen lineup’s ability to perform under pressure and secure crucial points in the World Test Championship standings.
Here is the starting XI:
| 1 | Abdullah Shafique |
| 2 | Saim Ayub |
| 3 | Shan Masood (c) |
| 4 | Babar Azam |
| 5 | Saud Shakeel (vc) |
| 6 | Mohammad Rizwan (wk) |
| 7 | Salman Ali Agha |
| 8 | Shaheen Afridi |
| 9 | Naseem Shah |
| 10 | Khurram Shahzad |
| 11 | Mohammad Ali |