Srinagar: Pakistan’s newly appointed selection committee under Shahid Afridi has added Mir Hamza, Sajid Khan and Shahnawaz Dahani to the Pakistan Test squad for the New Zealand series.
“The decision was made by the newly appointed Interim Selection Committee along with the Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam, who joined the session through video link,” PCB statement said.
Mir Hamza, who had made his last and only appearance in Test cricket against Australia in 2018, has been rewarded for a solid run in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. In his four matches this season, the left-arm paceman has 16 wickets under his belt at an impressive average of 24.
Off-spinner Sajid Khan has taken 21 wickets this season in seven appearances.
“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,” said Shahid Afridi interim Chair of the Men’s National Selection Committee.
“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”.
“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.
Fast bowler Shahnawaz Dahani is yet to make an appearance in Test cricket, though he has featured in two ODIs and 11 T20Is for Pakistan.
The first Test between Pakistan and New Zealand will be played on December 26 in Karachi.
Updated Test squad:
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.