Squad Breakdown:
Openers
Abid Ali (Central Punjab) - 8 tests at an average of 44.7 with two test centuries. After an exceptional start to his test career, he hasn't reached 50 in 6 innings, admittedly all of them in away conditions. Maybe he will return to form at home?
Imran Butt (Balochistan) - 72 first class games at 36.11 with 4478 runs. Not the most striking record and his last first class game was for the Shaheens in December, meaning he has not played for is regional side in quite a while. He has however played 3 games this season, averaging a shade under 32. Certainly not the best batsman but one who has been around the Shaheen set up so there could be some logic here.
Middle-order batsmen
Azhar Ali (Central Punjab) - A once exceptional batsman who seems to have rediscovered his form in recent times, with an unbeaten century in Southampton and 93 in Christchurch. On such occasions he looks to be playing on a different surface to other Pakistani batsmen. Not a popular choice but as someone who cant bat 1-4, he might be necessary.
Babar Azam (captain, Central Punjab) - The best Pakistani player, test average of 45 with over 2000 runs and 5 centuries. A home tour is a perfect way to find form after injury and this choice is a no brainer. Captain too.
Fawad Alam (Sindh) - A long term First Class stalwart averaging 56 with 37 centuries. His return to the side has had one highpoint, a century in New Zealand. Otherwise his average would be hovering around 10. The selection seems to be the need to keep an experienced head in the lower middle order.
Saud Shakeel (Sindh) - After 46 first class games, Saud Shakeel is averaging 48.78 with 10 centuries and 3000+. This is one of the better debutant selections, currently sitting second on the Q&E Trophy run score list. The left hand position may also help add variety to the batting order.
All-rounders
Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab) - A handy cricketer who has been around the Pakistan side for a few years. There are not many elite level all rounder across international cricket and none in the Pakistan set up. This is the best possible choice.
Mohammad Nawaz (Northern) - A decent limited overs cricketer who probably should receive more chances but in the test and First Class arena he looks out of his depth. His First Class run in this seasons Q&E has not impressed and averaging 37 with the ball is not a good sign.
Wicketkeepers –
Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) - No brainer and Pakistan's first choice keeper in all formats.
Sarfaraz Ahmed (Sindh) - Should Sarfaraz still deserve reserve status? An excellent servant to the game whose time should be up. What of someone like Rehan Afridi, young enough, experienced enough and a decent enough bat.
Spinners
Nauman Ali (Northern) - A 34 year old Chinaman may not be the most inspired choice but his repeatedly excellent performances in the domestic circuit are worth a shot. Experienced selections can always be useful.
Sajid Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) - A very good off spinner who deserves his shot here and it may just come at the right time for the young yet experienced man of 27. A 147 wickets at a shade over 25 speaks of skill and consistency. Watching him play you see a spark of world class skills.
Yasir Shah (Balochistan) - The most difficult of choice this...do you keep your most experienced bowler or do you drop him? Shah's performances have become increasingly erratic and ineffective. Just 18 wickets at 35 in the last year speaks of a man who may be keeping someone else's spot warm.
Fast bowlers
Haris Rauf (Northern) - 3 First Class games with an average of a shade under 40 and Rauf is not a batsman. This is a problematic pick, considering those that have had to be dropped to make way.
Hasan Ali (Central Punjab) - Difficult to begrudge Ali a return, with 43 wickets at an average of 20 in the Q&E. At his best, Ali is quick enough and can reverse the old ball, picking up wickets in bunches. that best has not been seen in years but a home series in home conditions could help.
Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) - Pakistan's best young bowler and one of the very best globally.
Tabish Khan (Sindh) - A 36 year old fast medium currently averaging 30 may not be the best fast bowler to debut, certainly not in a series of this magnitude. The fact that he is unlikely to even play a game has some dark irony to it.
Omissions:
Mohammad Abbas is the stand out here. Yes he may not be at his best but it is important to remember that his return from injury has been largely in the pandemic era, travelling from one bubble to another, all the while repeatedly having catches dropped off absolutely beauties. 12 wickets at 34 is not his best but that's just 6 matches into his come back and all against teams in foreign conditions...with the aforementioned dropped catches. How does any selection committee or coach/captain drop their best pace bowler at home?
Kamran Ghulam, with so much of the chatter this selection period around the best of the domestic circuit, how does the highest run scorer with an average of 50 not make the side? This is a damning omission and a problem the PCB must look to right.
Notable names: Zahid Mahmood, Saad Nasim, Irfanullah Shah, Mohammad Wasim.
That's all from me in my first post.
