Pakistan squad for Bangladesh Tests announced

Pakistan name four debutants for Bangladesh Tests with Sarfaraz Ahmed taking charge.

Pakistan have announced their squad for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, with four uncapped players included and Sarfaraz Ahmed stepping in as head coach.

The Pakistan squad will be led by Shan Masood, while Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais and Ghazi Ghori have earned maiden call-ups for the two-match series scheduled next month.

Four newcomers included in 16-man squad

Pakistan have named a 16-player squad featuring four new faces. Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais and Ghazi Ghori are all in line to make their Test debuts.

Among them, only Ghori has previous international exposure, having featured in one ODI in Mirpur against Bangladesh last month.

The squad retains several experienced names including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali, alongside established red-ball performers such as Noman Ali and Sajid Khan.

Sarfaraz begins new role as head coach

Sarfaraz Ahmed, who retired from international cricket last month, will lead the team’s coaching setup. The former Pakistan captain famously guided the side to the Champions Trophy title in 2017.

He is joined by Asad Shafiq as batting coach and Umar Gul as bowling coach. Shafiq scored 4660 runs in 77 Tests with 12 centuries, while Gul claimed 427 wickets in 237 matches across formats.

Preparation plans and schedule confirmed

Five players — Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Ghazi Ghori, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan — are currently involved in a red-ball conditioning camp at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.

The remaining squad members, excluding those involved in PSL 2026, will assemble in Karachi on April 27 for a training camp running until May 1.

Players featuring in the PSL will join after their campaigns. The squad will depart for Bangladesh on May 2, while those playing the PSL final on May 3 will travel immediately after.

The two-match Test series will be played in Dhaka from May 8 to 12 and in Sylhet from May 16 to 20.

Pakistan squad for Bangladesh Tests

Shan Masood (capt), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

What this means

Pakistan’s selection blends experience with fresh talent ahead of a challenging away series. The inclusion of four newcomers expands the player pool, while Sarfaraz Ahmed’s appointment signals a new phase in the team’s Test setup heading into Bangladesh conditions.

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