Pakistan 1st Test squad named

On the back of a century for Pakistan ‘A’ against the Indians, Imran Farhat has been recalled to the Pakistan senior squad for the first Test against India. Farhat scored 107 to force selection to a 15-man squad which bears a measure of predictability, despite the omission of Asim Kamal.

Farhat last represented Pakistan in Test cricket in 2004 against Australia. He scored 20 and 5 in that, the second Test match of Pakistan’s tour down under. When he was dropped it signified the end of a streak of 11 consecutive Test caps for the left-handed opener. In total, Farhat has played 15 Test matches, scoring 841 runs at an average of 30.03, with 4 fifties and 2 hundreds.

Asim Kamal, one of Pakistan’s most consistent performers, has been axed from the Pakistan squad for the first time since 2003, when he debuted against South Africa. The left-handed middle order batsman has since compiled 717 Test runs (37.73 average), with 8 fifties in 20 innings. The explanation given for his sacking is a lack of form.

Returning to the squad is allrounder Abdul Razzaq, though it is uncertain as to whether he will be passed fit to play in the first Test. Yasir Hameed has been excluded from the squad on account of illness.

Pakistan 1st Test squad:
Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Younis Khan (vice-captain), Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Mohammad Yousuf , Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal (wk), Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Danish Kaneria, Arshad Khan, Mohammad Asif.