Two players released from Pakistan squad ahead of first Test against Bangladesh

Abrar Ahmed and Kamran Ghulam have been released from Pakistan's Test squad ahead of the first Test match against Bangladesh. The two players will now feature in the Pakistan Shaheens squad for their second four-day match against Bangladesh ‘A,’ which begins on August 20 in Islamabad.

The decision to release wrist-spinner Abrar Ahmed was made after the selectors opted for an all-pace attack in the upcoming ICC World Test Championship match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, set to begin on August 21. Instead of keeping him on the bench, the selectors decided to give Abrar match practice with the Shaheens ahead of the second Test, which starts on August 30.

Top-order batter Kamran Ghulam has also been released from the Test squad and will captivate the Shaheens in the four-day match. Both players are expected to rejoin the Test squad after the conclusion of the Shaheens' match, bringing the squad back to its original strength of 17 players.

Meanwhile, several players who were part of the Pakistan Shaheens have now joined the Test side. These include Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Saud Shakeel. Mohammad Rameez Jnr has been left out for the Shaheens' second four-day match, and the Shaheens squad has been refreshed with the inclusion of Abrar Ahmed, Ali Zaryab, Imam Ul Haq, Mohammad Awais Anwar, Niaz Khan, Qasim Akram, Rohail Nazir, and Sharoon Siraj.

The Pakistan Shaheens squad for the second four-day match includes: Kamran Ghulam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ali Zaryab, Ghulam Mudassar, Imam-ul-Haq, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Awais Anwar, Niaz Khan, Qasim Akram, Rohail Nazir (wicket-keeper), Saad Baig (wicket-keeper), Saad Khan, Sharoon Siraj, and Umar Amin.