After their disappointing performance in the World Cup, Pakistan is set to begin its first international series tomorrow. The Bangladesh team is already in Pakistan for a series of two Test matches. Let’s review five key areas that fans and the PCB are closely monitoring.

Number 1 – Saim Ayub’s Bangladesh Test Selection:

Firstly, let’s address the most debated selection. Saim Ayub, who has not performed well in T20 internationals, is facing criticism for his inclusion in the Test team. However, the truth is that Saim has been a consistent performer in first-class cricket. In the last Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, he scored three centuries in four matches, which included one double century.

Furthermore, he has only played one Test match so far. Saim Ayub Test debut came in the challenging conditions of Australia earlier this year at Sydney, where he scored zero in the first innings and 33 in the second. Saim Ayub is known for his aggressive playing style, and he could be very beneficial for the team as an opener. All these points suggest that he deserves another chance in Test cricket. His selection indicates that the Pakistani think tank is looking for an aggressive opening batsman.

Number 2 – PCB Introducing New Faces: Domestic Cricket Player Selection

Now, let’s discuss the new players included in the squad, emphasizing domestic performers this time. As a result, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Huraira, and Kamran Ghulam have finally received the opportunity to join the Pakistan team. The performance of these players will also test whether our first-class system can produce players fit for the international level.

Previously, our PSL performers have been unsuccessful in T20 internationals, raising several questions about the quality of the PSL. Another significant question is whether the captain and the new management will give these players consistent opportunities in the playing eleven.

Number 3 – Naseem Shah Rejoins Test Squad:

Next, let’s talk about Naseem Shah’s return to Test cricket, marking his first appearance in this format since July 2023. Throughout his brief career, Naseem has frequently been sidelined due to injuries, missing almost half of the matches since his debut. It will be interesting to see how he performs in Test cricket and how the team management manages him considering his history of injuries.

Number 4 – Pakistan’s Spin Bowling Crisis and Pitch Issues:

Interestingly, Pakistan only selected one genuine spinner, Abrar Ahmad, for their squad. However, he was not included in the playing XI for the first Test against Bangladesh. Instead, the PCB released him from the squad before the match so he could represent Pakistan Shaheens in a four-day match against Bangladesh A. The team will enter the first match with four fast bowlers. This decision highlights two points: First, it shows the shortage of high-quality spinners in Pakistan. Second, it reflects why spin-friendly pitches are not commonly prepared in Pakistan. If we examine the test statistics over the past three years, spinners on Pakistani pitches have the highest average compared to other Asian countries, with an average of 43.58.

Another crucial point about pitches is that Pakistan has seen many dead pitches over the past few years, leading to a high number of drawn matches. In the last three years, 50% of the matches played in Pakistan ended in draws. Keeping all these conditions in mind, the PCB recently hired Tony Hamming, an Australian pitch curator with 40 years of experience. The question now is whether we will start seeing pitches that lead to decisive results or not?

Number 5 – Shan Masood’s Leadership with Fresh Management:

Lastly, let’s address the most critical issue: Shan Masood’s captaincy and the approach of Pakistan’s team under new management. Following the T20 World Cup failure, there were numerous reports about political issues and a lack of unity within the team. It will be a significant challenge for Shan Masood to unify the team in such an environment. It is important to note that Shan Masood is also a contender for the captaincy in next year’s Champions Trophy since the PCB plans to reconsider the leadership for white-ball cricket. In this series and the upcoming series against England, many eyes will be on Shan’s batting and captainial skills.

While Shan Masood’s early captaincy has had its challenges, his approach to batting has shown considerable promise, and his decision-making has seemed better than Babar Azam’s. As mentioned earlier, the upcoming series could be decisive for the future of Shan Masood’s captaincy.

Pakistan Playing XI for the Rawalpindi Test.

1. Abdullah Shafiq
2. Saim Ayub
3. Shan Masood
4. Babar Azam
5. Saud Shakeel
6. Mohammad Rizwan (WK)
7. Salman Ali Agha
8. Shaheen Shah Afridi
9. Naseem Shah
10. Khurram Shahzad
11. Mohammad Ali

Description: Exploring key areas in Pakistan vs Bangladesh Test Series 2024, including player selections and pitch conditions.