Ahmed Shehzad set to be called up for Sri Lanka Tests

[JUGRAJ SINGH]

Prime VIP
Staff member
Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad is likely to be handed a recall to the national Test side with the selectors set to name the side to tour Sri Lanka within the next 48 hours. Shehzad was axed from the side after the ICC Cricket World Cup due to disciplinary issues. Chief Selector, Haroon Rasheed, however, said that the opener is now cleared for selection. The rest of the team is expected to hold no surprises.

Head coach Waqar Younis and captain Misbah-u-Haq had both suggested to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after the World Cup to drop Shehzad and Umar Akmal and make them play domestic cricket for a year as both of them needed to improve their cricket discipline and attitude in general.

Shehzad's last Test came against New Zealand last year in Abu Dhabi, where he made a career best 176 to help Pakistan beat New Zealand. "He is clear for selection and as far as other issues like discipline is concerned that is for the board and team management to deal with," Rasheed said.

Rasheed said the selectors had been discussing the possible Test squad for the last few days and were waiting on fitness reports of pace bowlers Rahat Ali and Ehsan Adil. "We are waiting for their reports although the medical panel says they have improved after their fitness issues on the Bangladesh tour. "For the Tests, we are looking to go for experience and Misbah and Younis Khan are already training at the NCA with the other young players," he said.

Saeed Ajmal is also unlikely to get called up for the three Test series in June after he failed to impress on his comeback in Bangladesh. Ajmal was also dropped for the Zimbabwe series. Yasir Shah has taken up the spot of Pakistan's leading spinner now, and Rasheed added that budding spin talents like Muhammad Asghar and Osama Mir may be considered for either the one-day or T20 matches in Sri Lanka.

Tall left-armer Mohd Irfan is expected to play only in the limited overs leg of the tour giving him more time to completely recover from injury.

Pakistan play three Tests, five ODIs and two T20Is against Sri Lanka, starting with the Tests on 17 June.
 
Top