ISLAMABAD, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced an 18-member squad on Monday for the national men's team's upcoming tour to Australia to play a three-match Test series.
The team will be led during the December 14, 2023-Junary 7, 2024 tour by Shan Masood, who took over the charge last week after former skipper Babar Azam resigned from all three formats of the game.
Left-handed opening batter Saim Ayub and right-arm fast bowler Khurram Shahzad were selected for the first time for the Test squad after an impressive performance in the domestic tournaments, including Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2023-2024 and the Pakistan Cup 2023.
The PCB has selected Faheem Ashraf, Mir Hamza, and Mohammad Wasim Junior in the absence of Pakistan's top fast bowling battery, including Naseem Shah, Muhammad Hasnain, and Ahsan Ullah, who are suffering from different injuries.
Wahab Riaz, chief selector of the PCB, said: "The squad has been selected keeping in mind the challenging Australian conditions. We have kept the pitches in mind and added more pace bowling resources to the team."
According to the official, the squad will assemble in the country's eastern city of Rawalpindi on Wednesday for a training camp scheduled from Nov. 23 to 28 at the Pindi Cricket Stadium. ■
