Dubai: Pakistan chief selector Moen Khan said on Sunday he feels the squad for the first Test against Australia that starts in Dubai on Wednesday contains a good combination of players.
Speaking to Gulf News during training at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Academy here, Moen said: “We have picked a team which is a mix of experience and youth and we expect a good show from them.”
Moen is thrilled by Pakistan A’s 153-run win over the Australians in their four-day match in Sharjah. “That win is a big boost. They have shown that Australians can be beaten and now it is up to the Test players to lift their game and produce a victory,” he said.
The 16-man Test squad includes eight players that represented Pakistan A.
“The side has been picked in consultation with captain Misbah-ul-Haq and head coach Waqar Younis, and there is complete agreement that these are the best available players to represent Pakistan in the first Test against a formidable side like Australia, who are the second-ranked team in the world,” said Moen.
“Openers Taufeeq Umar and Mohammad Hafeez have been recalled due to their experience. Taufeeq has the experience of playing against Australia and in UAE conditions.
“Hafeez has been recalled as he is an experienced player and, in the absence of Saeed Ajmal, he gives the captain an extra spin option.
“The bowling is relatively inexperienced due to the non-availability of Junaid Khan, Wahab Riaz and Ajmal. But this is an opportunity for the likes of Imran Khan, Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil, Mohammad Talha and Zulfiqar Babar to prove their mettle against some of the best.
“They are extremely talented bowlers with a promising future and deserve selection.
“The selectors had considered Mohammad Irfan but decided not to include him in order to preserve him as we need to carefully manage his workload with the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 just four months away. The selectors believe he will be a formidable force on the hard and bouncy Australia pitches.”
