Pakistan announce 16-member Test squad for Bangladesh tour

Pakistan have announced a 16-member squad for the two-match Test series ahead of their tour of Bangladesh next month. The series will be held in Bangladesh, with the first Test—part of the ICC World Test Championship—scheduled to take place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka from 8 to 12 May. The second Test will be played at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium from 16 to 20 May.

Shan Masood will lead the side. Four players—Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais and Muhammad Ghazi Ghori—have earned their maiden call-ups to the national team.

The team will begin a training camp in Karachi on Monday, 27 April, which will run until 1 May. The players are scheduled to fly to Bangladesh on 2 May. Those currently participating in PSL teams will join the squad after completing their respective campaigns. Players whose teams qualify for the final will travel directly to Bangladesh after the tournament concludes.

The PCB has also announced the red-ball coaching staff for the Bangladesh tour, appointing former Test captain Sarfaraz Ahmed as head coach. Under his leadership, Pakistan won the ICC U19 World Cup in 2006 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017. Five months ago, he also guided the Pakistan U19 team to the ACC U19 Asia Cup title as mentor/manager. Earlier this year, he served as mentor/manager of the Pakistan Shaheens in their series against England Lions.

Former Test cricketers Asad Shafiq and Umar Gul will serve as batting and bowling coaches, respectively, during the tour. Asad Shafiq played 147 international matches (77 Tests, 60 ODIs, 10 T20Is), scoring 6,188 runs, including 12 centuries and 36 half-centuries. Right-arm fast bowler Umar Gul featured in 237 international matches (47 Tests, 130 ODIs, 60 T20Is), taking 427 wickets.

Pakistan squad:

Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi.