Pakistan announce 16-member squad for Test series against Bangladesh

Away from the buzz surrounding the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shifted its focus to the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh, as it has also appointed former captain and wicket-keeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed as its new head coach. 

Shan Masood, who has led the side in the longest format for the past few years, continues to serve as the captain of the side. But he has a very different back-room staff to work with in Bangladesh. Apart from Sarfaraz, the former Test players, Asad Shafiq and Umar Gul, will also work as the batting and bowling coaches, respectively. 

Pakistan reveal four newbies for Bangladesh Test series

The four uncapped players, Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, and Ghazi Ghori, have been named in their 16-member side for the two-match Test series against Bangladesh next month. Out of those four, only Ghori has international experience, having featured in an ODI at home in Mirpur against Pakistan last month.

The squad, except those players who are part of the PSL 2026, will take part in a camp from April 27 in Karachi. This concluded on May 01, as the PCB expressed in a statement. Five members of the squad, Imam-ul-Haq, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Awais, and Ghori, are taking part in the ongoing red-ball camp at Lahore’s National Cricket Academy.

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The PSL players will join the camp at the conclusion of their side’s campaigns, with the squad flying to Bangladesh on May 2, and the players whose teams qualify for the PSL final, to be played on May 03, will leave for the series immediately after.

The opening Test of the series will take place on May 08 at the Shere-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka before the action moves to Sylhet on May 16.

Sarfaraz Ahmed appointed Pakistan’s head coach

Sarfaraz Ahmed retired from international cricket last month and won the Champions Trophy in 2017 as their captain, and was also the mentor and manager of the Pakistan Shaheens against the England Lions. Meanwhile, Shafiq featured in all three formats but was best known for his performances in the red-ball format.

He scored 4660 runs in 77 games with 12 centuries. Gul, on the other hand, also played across the three formats, having managed 427 wickets in 237 international games.

Pakistan’s squad for Test series in Bangladesh

Here is Pakistan’s 16-member squad for the red-ball series against Bangladesh-

Shan Masood (captain), 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.