PAKISTAN TEST SQUAD TO FACE AUSTRALIA
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Azhar Ali (capt)
Age: 34
Tests: 73
Batting average: 43.27
The new Test skipper will shoulder a huge responsibility as Pakistan attempt to create history by winning their first Test series in Australia. Scored an unbeaten 205 in the 2016 Boxing Day Test, and can open the batting or go in at first drop.
Abid Ali
Age: 32
Tests: 0
The opener hurt his chances of snaring a Test debut when he scored a duck against a weak Cricket Australia XI outfit. Has an average of 39.1 in first-class cricket.
Asad Shafiq
Age: 33
Tests: 69
Batting average: 38.94
Enters the Test series in form after posting unbeaten scores of 101 and 119 in warm-up games. Is one of the most experienced players in the squad and will be heavily relied upon to provide consistency in the middle order.
Babar Azam
Age: 25
Tests: 21
Batting average: 35.28
Averages 54 in ODIs but is yet to translate that into the Test arena. This looms as the series where the right-hander can prove he can thrive against the very best.
Haris Sohail
Age: 30
Tests: 10
Batting average: 40.33
Bowling stats: Seven wickets at 22.28
Failed to fire during the two warm-up games but has scored two centuries in his past five Tests, including one against Australia in Dubai.
Imam-ul-Haq
Age: 23
Tests: 10
Batting average: 28.41
The opener is yet to record a century in Test cricket but did post solid scores of 43 and 35 against South Africa in Pakistan's most recent Test in January.
Imran Khan
Age: 32
Tests: 9
Batting average: 1
Bowling stats: 28 wickets at 30.14
The right-arm paceman snared 5-32 against a powerful Australia A squad last week. But with Pakistan boasting a host of rising pace stars, Khan is no guarantee to earn a berth for the first Test.
Iftikhar Ahmed
Age: 29
Tests: 1
Batting average: 4
Bowling stats: One wicket at 13
The spinning allrounder could become an important cog for Pakistan despite his limited experience in the Test arena. His one and only Test came against England in 2016.
Kashif Bhatti
Age: 33
Tests: 0
The left-arm spinning allrounder is yet to crack a Test debut, but averages an impressive 22.98 with the ball in first-class cricket, and 23.95 with the bat.
Mohammad Abbas
Age: 29
Tests: 14
Batting average: 6.3
Bowling stats: 66 wickets at 18.86
The hype is mostly about Pakistan's teenage pace stars but Abbas is their most dangerous bowler. The right-armer snared 17 wickets at an average of 10.58 in a two-Test series against Australia in the UAE in 2018.
Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
Age: 27
Tests: 1
Batting average: 13
With former captain and wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed dumped from all three formats, Rizwan now has a huge opportunity to cement a Test berth. Modest scores of six and 22 in the warm-up games means he enters the two-Test series low on confidence.
Muhammad Musa
Age: 19
Test: 0
The 19-year-old paceman has just seven first-class matches to his name but will be one to watch in coming years. Snared 2-32 against the CA XI.
Naseem Shah
Age 16
Tests: 0
The 16-year-old paceman has already been likened to Australian great Dennis Lillee. The right-armer delivered plenty of chin music in the warm-up games and is a strong chance to make his Test debut.
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Age: 19
Tests: 3
Batting average: 5.75
Bowling stats: 12 wickets at 31.41
The left-armer is another one of Pakistan's rising pace stars. His most recent ODI appearance netted him a return of 6-45 against Bangladesh. Is set to be given a licence to thrill against Australia.
Shan Masood
Age: 30
Tests: 15
Batting average: 26.43
Bowling stats: Two wickets at 22
The left-handed opener has scored just one century in 15 Tests and averages an underwhelming 26.4. Some good scores in the warm-up games and a solid return in January's Test series against South Africa means he will get the nod to open.
Yasir Shah
Age: 33
Tests: 35
Batting average: 11.04
Bowling stats: 203 wickets at 28.72
The team's front-line spinner will have an important lock-down role during the series while the raw pace attack works their magic at the other end. The legspinner took eight wickets at 84 last time Pakistan played a Test series in Australia in 2016-17 - a poor return he is desperate to make up for.
Australian Associated Press
