Pakistan, underneath newly-appointed red-ball captain Shan Masood, will play three Checks on the tour, in Perth (December 14-18), Melbourne (December 26-30) and Sydney (January 3-7).
The 21-year-old Ayub has already performed eight T20Is for Pakistan, and comes into the Check workforce with 1069 first-class runs at a median of 46.47, together with scores of 203 and 109 in his most up-to-date sport in October, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy closing. Shahzad has additionally been picked on kind, having ended the 2023-24 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy as its prime wicket-taker with 36 at a median 20.30.
Each wicketkeepers Sarfaraz Ahmed and Mohammad Rizwan have been a part of the squad, with Sarfaraz understood to be first alternative. He changed Rizwan within the Check facet final 12 months, and has retained his place within the final 4 Checks throughout two collection.
Abrar Ahmed’s choice additional cements his place as Pakistan’s premier red-ball spinner, with Noman Ali chosen as his back-up possibility. Spin choices throughout codecs have been a matter of intense scrutiny in Pakistan, with legspinners Shadab Khan and Usama Mir handing over disappointing performances by means of the World Cup. Abrar went to the World Cup as a reserve participant, however was not referred to as as much as the primary squad.
Pakistan have an unenviable file in Australia, having misplaced their final 14 Check matches on the bounce there.
Pakistan squad for Australia Check collection: Shan Masood (capt), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Agha Salman, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi
