|| Desk Report ||

Pakistan have named unheralded under -19 batsman Haider Ali and Kashif Bhatti in their 29-man combined squad for the upcoming tour of England today.

Haider had an outstanding 2019-20 domestic season, following which he earned an emerging contract for the 2020-21 season which Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently announced. Besides Haider, Kashif Bhatti, who is the other uncapped player in the side, is raring to play international games for the men in green.

Pakistan recalled fast bowler Sohail khan after a four-year-long gap. He played ninth and last Test for Pakistan was the 2016 Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

His return to the national team happened in such a period when experienced fast bowler Mohammed Amir withdrew himself from the squad. Amir pulled him out of the squad as he will be at the birth of his second child in August while Haris took the option of pulling out of the tour due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

 The touring side is scheduled to play a three-match Test series and as many as T-20 internationals during their stay in the United Kingdom (UK).

“The selectors have picked a squad which gives us the best chance of success in England,” Misbah-ul-Haque said.

“It was a challenging process as the players have not played for an extended period of time, but nevertheless, with the month that we will have in England and the intense training we will undergo, we are confident we will get the players up to the mark to be ready for the three Tests,” Misbah told the media.