Cricket Australia’s hopes of trying to generate interest in the upcoming series against Pakistan are getting harded by the day with fast bowler Haris Rauf out of the touring squad for the three-Test campaign.
Three front-line quicks — Naseem Shah, Ihsanullah and Mohammad Hasnain — had already been ruled out because of injuries forcing Pakistan to call up uncapped pacer Khurram Shahzad.
He is one of three uncapped players named in an 18-member squad on Monday. The others were left-handed opening batter Saim Ayub and allrounder Amir Jamal.
Newly appointed chief selector Wahab Riaz said Rauf pulled out on Sunday night despite confirming his availability two days ago.
“He (Rauf) gave his consent, but later he changed his mind because he was worried about his fitness and the workload,” Riaz said in Lahore while announcing the squad. “His absence will affect the team combination.”
Riaz said the medical panel of the Pakistan Cricket Board informed him that there were no fitness issues with Rauf. The chief selector and team director Mohammad Hafeez later sat together with Rauf, but the fast bowler pulled out at the last moment.
Shahzad, 23, was named alongside experienced bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali. Jamal, who has represented Pakistan in T20s against England, is in the squad as a seam-bowling allrounder.
Left-arm fast Mir Hamza, who picked up 32 wickets this season in Pakistan’s premier first-class tournament, and right-arm pacer Mohammad Wasim return to the squad.
Pakistan revamped the national team after making an early exit from the Cricket World Cup in India.
Babar Azam stepped down from the captaincy and left-handed opener Shan Masood will lead the Test side in Australia after he was appointed until the end of the World Test Championship cycle of 2023-25.
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka 2-0 in their opening WTC test series in Sri Lanka, but it will be a huge task for Masood in testing Australian conditions when Pakistan play in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.
“We have kept the (Australian) pitches in mind and added more pace bowling resources to the team to ensure that the management can be flexible with the team combinations,” Riaz said.
Mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed and left-arm spinner Noman Ali are the specialist slow bowlers.
Pakistan Test squad: Shan Masood (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Not all of the older generation's complaining. :laughing: In an ideal world, we'd be playing a West Indies team as good as we faced in the 1980's and a Pakistan as good as they had in the early 90's, but clearly that's not going to happen. I get that some feel let down that we're not playing 5 Tests against India or an Ashes series, but there's still so many things to look forward to. For a start, we're going to watch Tests, then all the sub-plots that will happen as the two series unfold. Or maybe the whingers are just practicing being cranky old men!
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
I just hope they fight hard.
Tim Reynolds
Roar Pro
I'm interested to see the effect of the recent One Day World Cup on the Test series. The one dayers were significantly influenced by T20 cricket in that it was basically attack from the start, and with England already having experimented with some success at the go for broke approach in Tests, that could be the new norm. Remember when 250 was an OK score in a one dayer? Now you're behind the 8ball if you don't top 300.
Polly
Roar Rookie
Hi BigGorden..great commentary. I to am looking forward to the series, and even more so after reading your post. I find it interesting that the older generation are quick to rubbish the other formats, and to sprout on about how superior Test cricket is, yet when the Tests roll around, the general commentary seems to be just general complaining. The quality of the sides, the pitches, the weather etc etc. I really wish people would enjoy the actual cricket a bit closer to the way they say they love Test Cicket.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
In fairness, I don't think there's a Test playing nation in the world, bar India, who travel well. If we were going to Pakistan, for example, I doubt too many would be getting excited for our chances. On that basis, I'm not expecting a close series, but am very much looking forward to seeing how individuals go; Is Warner justified in being picked for the Tests? Can Smith bounce back formwise? How will Lyon bowl after that injury? How will Green go? Will he even get a game? Will Carey come good? (I really hope so). How will the entire Aussie team perform given the workload they've had this year? Who will be the next big thing in Pakistan cricket (they always seem to have at least one outstanding young player coming along). Shaheen Afridi against Khawaja and Warner? Azam against our attack? The captaincy of Mahmood? The captaincy of Cummins?
matth
Roar Guru
It’s tough to feel that way when you look at Pakistan’s history in this country.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
It's a shame whoever wrote this piece didn't put it into context. Haris Rauf is 30 years old and has played exactly one (1) Test, where he bowled 13 overs out of an innings total of 101 as the Poms made 657 on a total road. He might have been a first choice for the squad, but hardly a frontline bowler for the Tests. As for the series, anyone who doesn't want to see Babar Azam and the other batsmen match their skill against the Aussie attack doesn't like Test cricket. If Australia has the same complacent attitude as this article, we could easily find ourselves trying to save a series, rather than win it.
Tony
Roar Guru
This Pakistani side won't win a game. You heard it here first.
jammel
Roar Rookie
Feels like there's now going to be a big gulf in quality sport. There'll be Tests/BBL/domestic cricket this summer, but not a lot until the NRL's back!!
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Rauf pushed back at committing to 12 overs a day so he wouldn’t be overworked for the T20 WC. Moderators won’t let me say exactly what I think about that. Joke
matth
Roar Guru
There is still some quality there. I am hopeful of a competitive series, but it’s not that likely.