Pak vs NZ: PCB announces three additions to Test squad

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Interim Selection Committee has included three new players — pacers Mir Hamza and Shahnawaz Dahani and off-spinner Sajid Khan — in the Pakistan Test squad for the two-match series against New Zealand, which begins on Monday in Karachi.

The decision was made following the committee’s meeting, which was chaired by Shahid Afridi, who, along with Pakistan captain Babar Azam, joined the session through video link.

Other members of the panel are former cricketers Abdul Razzaq and Rao Iftikhar Anjum, while Haroon Rashid (member Management Committee) is the convener.

“We had a good discussion on the squad and agreed we needed to strengthen our bowling department to give ourselves the best chance of taking 20 wickets in a match. As such, and taking into consideration recent form and performances, we have added fast bowlers Mir Hamza and Shahnawaz Dahani, and off-spinner Sajid Khan," said Afridi.

“I am confident the inclusion of three additional bowling resources will give Babar Azam more options to field the best available squad for the first Test,” the former captain added.

In the four Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches, Hamza took 16 wickets in four matches, while Sajid scooped 21 wickets in seven matches. Dahani appeared in only two four-day matches as he was on national duty.

Hamza’s only Test was against Australia in Abu Dhabi in October 2018, while Sajid’s seventh and last Test was against Australia earlier this year in Lahore. 

He has to date taken 22 wickets, including eight for 42 against Bangladesh in Dhaka last year. Shahnawaz is yet to make an appearance in Test, though he has featured in two ODIs and 11 T20Is for Pakistan.

Test squad

Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shan Masood and Zahid Mehmood

Revised itinerary

26-30 December — 1st Test, Karachi

2-6 January — 2nd Test, Karachi

9 January — 1st ODI, Karachi

11 January — 2nd ODI, Karachi