KARACHI: In a surprise move, Pakistan’s selectors on Monday included big-hitting opener Sharjeel Khan in a 16-man squad for next month’s two-Test series against New Zealand.
Sharjeel has in recent times made his bones as a limited overs specialist but his credentials when it comes to the five-day format remain questionable.
According to sources, one of the chief reasons why the national selection committee headed by Inzamam-ul-Haq opted for Sharjeel was the fact that Mohammad Hafeez failed to regain his spot in the touring party.
Hafeez, who flopped miserably with the bat in England, was unable to pass a bowling test which meant that Pakistan could only select him as a specialist batsman. The selectors opted against it and started looking elsewhere. The left-handed Sharjeel was in their radar after scoring 96 and 82 not out in successive innings in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and decided that the 27-year-old should be given his maiden call-up for Tests. He has 4853 first-class runs at an average of 37.91 with 11 hundreds and 21 fifties.
“The Test team has been selected keeping in mind the conditions in New Zealand and the recent performances of players in the recent Test series against England and West Indies,” said Inzamam.
“The team is a fine blend of experience and youth, and the selectors have stick to the same combination of players selected against England and West Indies series earlier and believe that team will do well in the tour”, he added.
The 27-year-old Sharjeel has been a regular presence at the top of the order limited-overs cricket in 2016, scoring a bruising 152 off 86 balls against Ireland in August.
There was one more uncapped player among the 16 that were chosen - middle-order batsman Mohammad Rizwan. He was with the team in England in July 2016, but was left out for the subsequent Tests against West Indies in the UAE.
Zulfiqar Babar has been dropped. With neither Christchurch nor Hamilton - the venues for the two Tests against New Zealand - known for producing turning pitches, Pakistan were content to partner Yasir Shah with left-arm spinning allrounder Mohammad Nawaz, who made his debut in the Pakistan’s first day-night Test in October; his first-class credentials include three centuries and 49 wickets from 31 matches. Zulfiqar, though the better bowler, only averages 16 with the bat in first-class cricket.
Pakistan have tried six opening combinations since the start of 2015, including playing the final Test of the England tour and the entire West Indies series with only one specialist - Sami Aslam, who has been retained. Azhar Ali was promoted up the order and scored his maiden triple-century from that position in October. With Sharjeel, who has opened the batting in all but two of his 76 first-class matches, coming into the squad, Azhar could perhaps return to his usual No. 3 position.
Younis Khan, captain Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, touted as one of Pakistan’s most technically proficient batsmen, and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed make for a strong middle order. There is also Babar Azam, who made his Test debut in October following three successive ODI centuries.
On the fast bowling front, Pakistan have three left-arm quicks in Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir and Rahat Ali to go with right-arm seamers Sohail Khan and Imran Khan.
Pakistan squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Azhar Ali, Sami Aslam, Sharjeel Khan, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Mohammad Rizwan, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan, Imran Khan.