PAK v AUS: Mohammad Nawaz Out Of The Test Series against Australia; Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed Named Traveling Reserves

There have been some changes in the Pakistani squad which was named on Wednesday (February 23, 2022) by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz was ruled out of the Test series which begins with the first match in Rawalpindi on March 4.

The second Test match of the series will be played in Karachi from March 12-16 and the final third Test match will be hosted by Lahore from March 21-25. The PCB cricket selectors had announced a 16-member Pakistan squad and five reserves for the three Tests against Australia on February 9.

Babar Azam was named the captain of the side and three changes were made to the side that played against Bangladesh. Haris Rauf, who was in the side for South Africa and Zimbabwe Tests in 2021, has returned to replace off-spinner Bilal Asif, while Shan Masood, who last played in New Zealand in the 2020-21 season, has taken over from Abid Ali, who is completing his rehabilitation after being diagnosed with Acute Coronary Syndrome. Yasir Shah has been added to the reserve pool.

Mohammad Nawaz Ruled Out Test Series; No Replacement Named: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)

In a media release on February 23, 2022, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stated that Mohammad Nawaz has been ruled out of the series with a foot injury. He will not be replaced in the side. Apart from this, Naseem Shah and Sarfaraz Ahmed have now been added as traveling reserves. They will only be considered for selection if there is an injury.

“Mohammad Haris has been added to the reserve players list. However, he, along with Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Abbas, and Yasir Shah have been advised to participate in the Pakistan Cup, which commences on 2 March. If required, they will be drafted into the side,” PCB said.

Test players who attended a training camp in Karachi and those not involved in PSL 2022 playoffs will arrive in Islamabad on Wednesday. After observing three-day room isolation, they will hold a training session on Sunday.

Updated Pakistan squad for Australia Test series:

Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain) (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Haris Rauf (Northern), Hasan Ali (Central Punjab), Imam-ul-Haq (Balochistan), Nauman Ali (Northern), Sajid Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shan Masood (Balochistan) and Zahid Mahmood (Sindh)

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