Sarfraz and co leave for UAE ahead of Sri Lanka series

Pakistan will be featuring in Tests for the first time since the retirement of Misbah, Younus

KARACHI: Pakistan are all set to step into a new era in their storied Test history as they travelled to the UAE early on Sunday to take on Sri Lanka under new skipper Sarfraz Ahmed.

The travelling entourage comprises of 16 members of the team and nine officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The two-Test series begins on Thursday, September 28, with the second match taking place on on October 6.

The Test team was announced on Saturday, where five uncapped players were included in the team as the team looks to move on from the retirements of legends Younus Khan and Misbahul Haq.

That doesn’t mean the Test team won’t have familiar faces in it, with Yasir Shah being passed fit for the first Test despite fears that he may be sidelined due to fitness issues; the primary reason the announcement of the team was delayed.

The Test team’s most consistent batsman of the last couple of years, Azhar Ali, also makes it despite struggling with a knee injury.

The squad

Chief selector Inzamamul Haq, addressing a press conference, announced the names of the 16 players in the squad, which includes five fast-bowlers and two specialist spinners as Sarfraz looks to find the arsenal required to take 20 wickets on the dry unresponsive pitches of the Middle Eastern desert.

Batsmen Haris Sohail and Usman Salahuddin are in line to play the five-day game for the first time, having already featured in ODIs previously. The duo will be looking to make the spots left behind by Misbah and Younus their own.

Spin-bowling all-rounder Bilal Asif and left-armer Mohammad Asghar are the other players in the squad yet to play in Tests along with fast-bowler Mir Hamza.

The players featured in a five-day training camp before leaving for the UAE, while they will also be taking part in a practice session in the UAE on Monday morning.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka will also play five ODIs and three T20Is; the last of which is scheduled to be in Lahore on October 29.

Sarfraz, leading the side in whites for the first time, has warned his charges that victory against Sri Lanka will not come easy for the team.

The skipper admitted Younus and Misbah’s departure has left a team with a void that needs to be filled as soon as possible.

Batting coach Grant Flower, on the other hand, has earmarked Usman Salahuddin and Babar Azam are potential players to fill the gap of two legendary players.