Pakistan announce squad for first two Tests against NZ - Saad Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi picked

[Abid Z]

Bilal Asif, Yasir Shah and hafeez. That 2 full and one part time spinner!!!

It only swings for short periods when the ball is new first thing in morning. Trent Boult or not. If he can be kept out for a few overs a slow grind is possible

 

[Abid Z]

Oh for gods sake. Stop it with this nepotism rubbish. Fakhar is not a tight opener for tests. Has way too many weaknesses that even non professionals can spot. Imam has a very tight technique.

The selectors select squads not the playing eleven. It’s the captain and team management that decide and I agree would take imam over any other opener.

Fakhar is better inducted lower down in tests.

 

[Hasan123]

Sarfraz still has 13 playing years left in him, if follow Misbah's footsteps .

Sarfraz doesn't have fitness levels plus he is playing all 3 formats and can't play as a specialist batsmen.

 

[Sadozai]

Our selectors are God Gifted, they can assess the performance of players sitting at bench on whole series. what more do we need.. I think PCB should auction these selectors, so that rest of the world could also benefit from their God Gifted supernatural powers

 

[Gotham Cronie]

Both Shadab and Fakhar have been given time to rehab at the NCA with specific plans.

They are expected to rejoin the squad for the 3rd Test.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

I’m all for shaheen getting a game here before SA. Regardless of conditions it’s better he debut in semi familiar conditions

 

[mak36]

Addition of SSA is a great move.

Saad Ali has been rewarded not just for a scoring a big century in the A game, but for doing so at a decent S/R (66). Whilst Salahuddin also scored a century in the A game it was much slower (40). Good to see management are picking up on these things.

It's a shame Fakhar hasn't been selected, but sounds like he needs rest/rehab on his knee.

Would play the following XI from the squad that has been selected:

Imam
Azhar
Haris
Asad
Babar
Hafeez
Sarfaraz
Bilal
Yasir
SSA
Abbas

Would love to play Saad, but a fifth bowling option is always useful so Hafeez plays (but not as an opener).