Pakistan have five uncapped players, while England have three
29 November, 2022
PHOTO: AFP/PCB
The Test series between Pakistan and England is starting from December 1 at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.
The three matches, part of the ICC World Test Championship, holds great importance for Pakistan as losing any of the matches can lower their chances of not finishing in the last two for the final, scheduled at the Oval in 2023.
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England are coming with a back of a great home summer where they won six out of seven games. They have changed the way Test cricket is played since the appointment of Brendon McCullum as head coach of the longest format and Ben Stokes as captain.
England squad also reflects the same pattern they will play in Pakistan after hard-hitters and aggressive all-rounders were named in the squad.
Numerous uncapped players are part of the 16-men squad and could be in line to make their debut. Surrey's Will Jacks is part of the side while white-ball specialist Liam Livingstone also made the cut. Teenage leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed is also part of the squad, just 18.
On the other hand, Pakistan have also five uncapped players in an 18-member squad. They are mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed, pacer Haris Rauf, middle-order batter Saud Shakeel, leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood and all-rounder Mohammad Wasim Jr.
There is a higher possibility of Abrar Ahmed and Haris Rauf playing their first Test as the duo are in place of Yasir Shah and injured Shaheen Afridi.
Meanwhile, Saud Shakeel's inclusion could be in the playing XI as he is the only middle-order batter who is a left-hander.
