Pakistan Trio Eager to Establish Themselves in The Test Fold

Pakistan has announced their 16-man squad for the upcoming tour to Ireland and England starting from May 11 with as many as five uncapped players.

Fakhar Zaman, Faheem Ashraf, Saad Ali, Usman Salahuddin and Imam-ul-Haq will look to make a mark in their debut stint owing to the longer format.

Meanwhile, Zaman has previous experience of playing in England during the Champions Trophy in 2017. He also scored a swashbuckling hundred against India in the final as Pakistan lifted the maiden title.

Previous experience will help me: Zaman

Talking to the reporters, Zaman admitted that the experience will come in handy.

“Yes, we will have an edge (after having played the Champions Trophy in England). I have played there only once but the weather remains the same throughout. I have an idea about how the wickets will be,” Zaman said.

The 28-year-old Zaman looked excited after his maiden Test call. He insisted that the transition to the longer format won’t bother him.

“I am excited to have been picked in the Test team as I believe that Test cricket is the toughest form of the game,” he said. “Even when I was picked for the Pakistan T20 side, it was on the back of performances in four-day cricket. I want to take my ODI and T20I form into Test cricket and hope to perform well,” he added.

I want to represent Pakistan in all formats: Ashraf

The 24-year-old Ashraf want to feature across formats for Pakistan. So far, he has played eight One-day Internationals and 10 Twenty20 Internationals for Pakistan.

“The goal is to cement my place permanently in all three formats of the game through consistent performances,” he said.

 

“I believe, to survive in all three formats, you need physical fitness and consistent form and I know that is the secret to success, which is why I am training hard,” Ashraf added.

Will look to use my county experience: Abbas

Mohammad Abbas, who is playing in the County Championship for Leicestershire and returned 2/42 in his first outing against Sussex admitted that he will look to use his county experience.

Pakistan selectors headed by Inzamam-ul-Haq picked him alongside Mohammad Amir and Hasan Ali in the fast bowling unit.

“I feel extremely lucky that despite being new to international cricket, I have been given an opportunity to play county cricket for a top-quality side. I feel blessed as I have played just two Test series so far,” he told Sky Sports.

“Acclimatising to conditions is important for me, as is adjusting to the nature of the pitches in England. My idea is to experience bowling in such conditions, which will be similar to those I will encounter when I play the Tests series for Pakistan against England in the coming weeks,” Abbas concluded.

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