Mohammad Wasim Jr likely to make his Test debut tomorrow

Emerging all-rounder Mohammad Wasim Jr has become a strong candidate to appear in the first historic between Pakistan and Australia.

Pakistan are considering to hand Test debut to Wasim Jr in the Rawalpindi Test, starting from tomorrow after Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, and Haris Rauf were ruled out of the first Test.

Hasan and Faheem were sidelined due to injuries while Haris tested positive for Covid-19. Naseem Shah was added to the main squad and will share the new ball with Shaheen Shah.

Wasim end his three-day mandatory isolation yesterday and will have the chance of training before the start of the match tomorrow as today's practice session was canceled due to rain.

The possibility of Wasim Jr's debut arises due to the absence of Faheem, who bats at seven and gives a valuable seam bowling option to Pakistan.

Viewing the conditions of Rawalpindi, the home side is likely to go with three pace bowling options and Wasim Jr is one of them.

Wasim Jr has appeared in the seven first-class games, bagging 20 wickets at 24.85.

Meanwhile, Pakistan also has to make a decision regarding the opening pair. Abid Ali and Abdullah Shafique batted as openers in the Bangladesh Tests but Abid was ruled out of the series after being diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome.

Either Shan Masood or Imam-ul-Haq will partner with Abdullah, who has played only two Tests

Pakistan's likely XI for the first Test

Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood/Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Sajid Khan, Nauman Ali, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah