Pakistan add three players to Test squad for New Zealand series

The Pakistan Men’s Interim Selection Committee on Saturday added Mir Hamza, Sajid Khan and Shahnawaz Dahani to the Pakistan Test squad for the two-match series against New Zealand, which commences 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 a video link.

“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 Shahid Afridi in a PCB media release.

“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,” he added.

In the four Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches, Mir Hamza took 16 wickets at an average of 24.00, while Sajid Khan scooped 21 wickets in seven matches at an average of 34.04 for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Shahnawaz Dahani appeared in only two four-day matches for Sindh as he was on national duty.

Mir 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 an 8/42 against Bangladesh in Dhaka last year. Shahnawaz Dhani is yet to make an appearance in Test, though he has featured in two ODIs and eleven T20Is for Pakistan.

The two-match Test series against New Zealand will get underway on Monday in Karachi. Earlier on Saturday, it was announced that the second Test will be moved from Multan to Karachi because of weather concerns. The entire series now – two Tests and three ODIs – will now be staged in Karachi.

Pakistan’s updated Test squad for New Zealand series: 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