England squad lands in Pakistan for historic Test series

England squad lands in Pakistan for historic Test series

Cricket

England squad lands in Pakistan for historic Test series

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – England cricket team arrived in Islamabad on Sunday for first time in 17 years to play a three-match Test series against Pakistan.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials welcomed the England player at the Islamabad International Airport as they stepped on the soil of the South Asian country after a long period.

The team will take rest on Sunday and will start its practice session from Monday ahead of the first Test scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi from December 1 to 5.

The second game of the series will be played in Multan (December 9-13) while Karachi will host the final match from December 17-21.

Earlier this week, PCB Chief Selector Muhammad Wasim announced the 18-player squad for the three-Test home series against England.

Mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed and fast bowler Mohammad Ali have been rewarded for their strong first-class performances with maiden Test call-ups on the back of their thrilling performance in Quaid-e-Azam Trophy editions.

Uncapped Mohammad Wasim Jnr and Zahid Mehmood, who were part of the Test side for the three Tests against Australia earlier in the year, are the other two players to return to the side.

Pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi was unavailable for selection after he underwent appendicitis surgery, which will require three-four weeks’ rest following which he will resume his two-week rehabilitation on his right knee.

Pakistan squad for England Tests: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (vc & wk), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Zahid Mehmood.
It is recalled that the England team visited Pakistan earlier this year when it played seven T20I matches against Pakistan.