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28-Sep-2018 04:52:00 GMT
Pakistan vs Australia, 2018-19, UAE

Amir dropped from Pakistan Test squad to face Australia

Lahore: Pakistan left out struggling pace spearhead Mohammad Amir from the 17-member squad for the two-match Test series against Australia starting in United Arab Emirates next month.

The 26-year-old fast bowler, who returned from a five-year ban for match-fixing in January 2016, had a wicketless Asia Cup in which he was dropped for two matches.

Pakistan crashed out of the Asia Cup after losing to Bangladesh, who meet India in the final in Dubai on Friday.

Pakistan will heavily rely on its ace leg-spinner Yasir Shah who played a key role in the 2-0 win over Australia in UAE in 2014, when he took 12 wickets.

Pakistan Test squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain and wk), Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, Bilal Asif, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wk).

Besides Yasir the squad has 19-year-old leg-spinner Shadab Khan and 33-year-old off-spinner Bilal Asif, who has yet to play a Test match but played three one-day internationals in 2015.

Left-arm paceman Riaz returns to the squad after playing the last of his 26 Tests in October last year.

The squad also has another fast-rising left-arm paceman Hamza who has yet to play for Pakistan.

Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq said the team was selected keeping in mind the conditions in the UAE, where Pakistan had been forced to play its home matches since 2009.

The first Test starts in Dubai from October 7 while the second is in Abu Dhabi from 16 October.

Both teams will also play three Twenty20 internationals, the squads for which will be announced later.


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