After a disappointing 2023 World Cup campaign which ended with Pakistan finishing in fifth place in the points table, there have been some shake-ups around the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the team management.
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Captain Babar Azam resigned from his post on 15 November, as did chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq and bowling coach Morne Morkel. Former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez was appointed as team director, and head coach for the Australia tour while ex-Pakistan pacer Wahab Riaz was appointed as chief selector.
Following Babar's resignation, Shan Masood was announced as the new red-ball captain, with Shaheen Shah Afridi set to take over the reins in T20 cricket.
Pakistan name Test squad for Australia tour: Shahzad, Saim Ayub receive maiden call-ups
An 18-man squad for the Australia tour was announced on Monday, with two uncapped players receiving their maiden call-ups to the senior side.
Left-handed batter Saim Ayub found a spot in the squad, despite carving out a name for himself as a future T20 star. He finished as the second highest run-scorer in the 2023 Caribbean Premier League, representing the victorious Guyana Amazon Warriors.
MORE: Who is Saim Ayub? Know more about Pakistan's latest batting sensation
In first-class cricket, Saim has scored 1069 runs in 14 matches, at an average of 46.5 and strike rate of 70. In the 2023 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final, he scored a superb 203 in a 367-run partnership with new Pakistan captain Shan Masood.
In that final, Saim was dismissed by pacer Khurram Shahzad, who was also called up to the squad. The 23-year-old finished with 36 wickets in the tournament, at an average of 20.3. In a first-class career spanning 44 matches, Shahzad has picked up 135 wickets.
MORE: Did the lack of genuine all-rounders hurt India?
"He committed to us and pulled out two days later" - Wahab Riaz on Haris Rauf
In the squad announcement, chief selector Wahab Riaz made it a point to mention that fast bowler Haris Rauf was not in the squad, as he "committed to us and pulled out two days later".
Wahab Riaz extremely strong in his critique about Haris Rauf, who is not part of the squad for the Australia Tests.
— Danyal Rasool (@Danny61000) November 20, 2023
Wahab says he declined to be part of the Aus Tests, "he committed to us and pulled out two days later" and says it'll hurt Pakistan cricket.
Rauf endured a tough time at the recently-concluded World Cup. He has played just one Test match for Pakistan, against England in December 2022.
Full Pakistan Test squad for Australia tour
Shan Masood (c), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
