Pakistan has announced the 12-man squad for the second and final Test of the series against Australia at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium (Abu Dhabi), starting on Tuesday (October 16). Opener Fakhar Zaman is set to make his Test debut while Mir Hamza is also in the 12-man squad.
After the disappointing first Test at Dubai, Pakistan is ready to start positively again in the second and final Test of the series that will begin from Tuesday. In their 12-man squad for the second Test, Fakhar Zaman has been added as the replacement of injured Imam-ul-Haq while the leg-spinner Shadab Khan or left-arm pacer Mir Hamza can replace the left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz.
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If the left-arm pacer Mir Hamza selected in the playing XI, then two Pakistan players will make their Test debuts in the Abu Dhabi Test. The 28-year-old left-handed opening batsman Fakhar Zaman, who has impressed in the limited-overs cricket, has yet to make his Test debut. Meanwhile, the 26-year-old left-arm pacer Mir Hamza hasn’t played yet an international cricket match.
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On the other hand, the 20-year-old leg-spinner Shadab Khan has played four Tests after making his test debut in April 2017.
Talking about Pakistan’s playing XI for the second Test, while the ten cricketers have been almost selected with the inclusion of Fakhar Zaman, there is the only doubt between the left-arm pacer Mir Hamza and the leg-spinner Shadab Khan as it seems like the Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed will take this decision before the toss after observing the condition of the ground.
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Pakistan mostly dominated in the first Test at Dubai before the Australian batsmen brilliantly fought against the Pakistan bowlers on the challenging fifth-day pitch and secured a draw. Putting the 462-run fourth innings target in front of Australia, Pakistan bowlers failed to take ten opponent wickets as Australia secured a magnificent draw after scoring 362/8 in 139.5 overs.
Pakistan’s 12-man squad for the Abu Dhabi Test against Australia: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfaraz Ahmed (capt/wk), Bilal Asif, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Shadab Khan, Mir Hamza
