PAK vs SL | Fawad Alam returns to Pakistan Test side after 10 years
Fawad Alam has been named in the Pakistan Test side for the series against Sri Lanka after a prolonged absence of 10 years. While Usman Shinwari has been called up for the two match series, pacer Mohammad Musa and allrounder Iftikhar Ahmed have been dropped after a disappointing Australia series.
Coming off a whitewash in the Test series Down Under, Pakistan gear up for the Test series against Sri Lanka at home which will mark the return of Test cricket to the country in over a decade. To mark the momentous occasion with a couple of victories, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) seem to leave no stone unturned as they named the squad for the series.
The series will see the return of veteran batsman Fawad Alam, who is also returning after a decade, having played his last game in the infamous 2009 Test series against Sri Lanka. Chief selector Misbah ul Haq has hailed his selection as the reward for his heroics in the domestic circuit. Alam has amassed over 12,000 runs in first-class cricket having played 165 matches.
"I want to congratulate Fawad Alam on his selection for the Sri Lanka Tests. It is a reward for his continued hard work, perseverance and dedication to the game. His selection is not only a lesson to the emerging cricketers but also a testament of the selectors' policy of valuing domestic cricket and rewarding consistent performers," Misbah said.
Meanwhile, Usman Shinwari, the left-arm pacer, has earned a call-up to the Test squad. Shinwari, who has played 17 ODIs and 16 T20Is, is yet to play in a Test match. The pacer has a noteworthy record in first-class cricket, with 90 scalps to his name at an average of just over 24.
"Usman Shinwari has been drafted into the side as he has been part of the Pakistan cricket team set-up for the past few years, which is backed up with his fitness, form and ability to bowl long spells at a good pace, which was evident during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. I am sure he will make up a good combination with Imran Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Naeem Shah and Shaheen Afridi.
"Mohammad Musa will not be part of the squad, but he will remain with the side so that he can continue to work on his bowling with Waqar Younis," Misbah noted.
Youngster Musa, who was taunted as a prodigy, failed to impress on his Test debut as he returned with figures of 0-114 in the D/N Test in Adelaide. While his poor performance saw him being axed from the side, Naseem Shah, who also made his debut in the Australia series, have been retained in the side even after slugging on his debut. All-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed also lost his place in the side following a string of low scores Down Under, as he scored only 44 in the two-match Test series.
Pakistan's opening Test of the series will be played in Rawalpindi from December 11. The second and final Test of the rubber is scheduled to take place in Karachi from December 19. The series will mark the return of Test cricket to Pakistan since Sri Lanka toured the country in 2009.