Summary:
- Fast-bowler Aamer Jamal will miss the Test series against Bangladesh due to a back injury.
- Pakistan announces their XI for the series opener, with Saim Ayub keeping his place.
- Muhammad Hurraira, despite strong domestic performances, will wait for his debut.
Pakistan fast-bowling allrounder Aamer Jamal has been confirmed as unavailable for the upcoming two-Test series against Bangladesh, according to an announcement by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Jamal, who has been struggling with a lower back injury, will miss the first Test starting August 21 in Rawalpindi and is also ruled out for the second Test set to begin on August 30.
Initially selected for the squad with a condition of fitness clearance, Jamal’s absence has been confirmed as he has not fully recovered from his injury. His back issues, which began affecting him in May, have also impacted his recent stint with Warwickshire in England, where he last played competitive cricket in June.
In his place, Pakistan has announced its XI for the series opener, with Saim Ayub retaining his position as opener. Ayub, who debuted against Australia earlier this year, was chosen for continuity, leading to Muhammad Hurraira, a promising 22-year-old known for his impressive domestic performances, missing out on his international debut. Hurraira scored a notable 218 runs against a Bangladesh High Performance XI in a four-day match last month.
Jamal, who was Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker in the recent away series against Australia, will now focus on his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. He aims to regain full fitness before the Test series against England in October.
Pakistan will proceed with a squad of 14 players for the first Test, with Abrar Ahmed and Kamran Ghulam being released to play for the Shaheens. The team is expected to field an all-seam attack, with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mir Hamza, Khurram Shahzad, and Mohammad Ali joining the squad. The announcement of the XI marks a new chapter as Pakistan gears up for a challenging series.
