Salman Ali Agha to make debut in first Sri Lanka Test, Fawad Alam dropped

Pakistan have unveiled their line-up for the first Test against Sri Lanka that begins tomorrow at Galle International Cricket Stadium. All-rounder Salman Ali Agha will make his Pakistan debut on Saturday.

Salman was added to the 18-player squad for this series following an impressive run in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy first-class tournament in the last three years. In 18 matches, since 2019-20 season, the right-hander has scored 1,629 runs at a strong average of 56.19. The 28-year-old has smashed five centuries and eight half-centuries. His off-spin snared 25 wickets. 

Here's our XI for the first #SLvPAK Test tomorrow! #BackTheBoysInGreen 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/VOgFH247N6

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) July 15, 2022

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah and all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz will return to the side in the first Test. Yasir - who was instrumental in Pakistan’s 2-1 Test series win in 2015 with his player of the series performance – will play his first Test since August 2021 after recovering from a thumb injury.  

Mohammad Nawaz will return after almost six years as the 28-year-old last played a Test in November 2016.

Meanwhile, Fawad Alam and Nauman Ali have been dropped as the duo last featured in home Test against Australia.

Pakistan’s XI for first Test: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (vc, wk), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi and Yasir Shah