ISLAMABAD: Pakistan cricket selectors called up four more players for a practice match and training camp ahead of the first Test against Bangladesh to be played at the Pindi Stadium from February 7.
Players added to the 16 already attending a training camp at the NCA in Lahore are batsmen Faizan Riaz, Zeeshan Malik and Ashfaq Ahmad plus pacer Mohammad Hasnain.
The other players preparing for the two-Test Bangladesh series are Abid Ali, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Yasir Shah, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Usman Khan Shinwari, Imamul Haq, Imran Khan Senior, Kashif Bhatti, Fawad Alam, Faheem Ashraf, Bilal Asif and Musa Khan.
The selection committee headed by Misbahul Haq, who is also the national team’s head coach, is contemplating to hold a three-day practice match starting January 30 at the Gaddafi Stadium.
“Four more players have been invited to the camp because the team management is planning to hold a practice match to get the best view of the players’ form and fitness ahead of the first Test,” a team official said.
He said Faizan, Zeeshan and Ashfaq finished amongst the top 10 batsmen in the first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy while Hasnain, who bowled fiery spells in the just concluded T20 series against Bangladesh, looked fit and ready for Test cricket.
“These names have been added to the pool of players already announced purely on their performance,” he said.
Northern’s Faizan scored 857 runs in eight matches, Ashfaq collected 805 in 10 games and Zeeshan had 780 in eight. “Our efforts have always been to give weightage to performances in domestic cricket. These batsmen need further exposure and patronage,” the official said.
When questioned as to when the Test squad will be announced, he said chances are that it will be done by the end of the practice match. “These new additions will also help us complete two outfits for the practice match as well as providing good opportunities to all the participants.”
The Bangladesh team that returned home following the T20 series in Lahore is due back on February 5.