Pakistan Test skipper Shan Masood has expressed strong confidence in his team's fast-bowling arsenal.
While speaking to Bazid Khan in a PCB podcast, Masood opened up about managing the workload of his pacers during the upcoming Test season.
Pakistan has a busy Test schedule ahead till January 2025, with series against Bangladesh (home, 2 Tests), England (home, 3 Tests), South Africa (away, 2 Tests), and West Indies (home, 2 Tests).
"You have to manage their [pacers] workload. Like with Shaheen Afridi in Australia - he played two Test matches on the bounce, and we had to rest him for the third one because there was a heavy schedule coming up for him. We'll keep looking at that," Masood said.
Masood is excited about the depth in Pakistan's fast-bowling department, mentioning that the current squad boasts six highly talented pacers, each capable of offering something unique to the team.
"But the exciting part is that in our current squad, we've got six exciting fast bowlers. All six of them can make a claim for the playing XI, and all six offer something different. Wherever someone is required, and if it allows us to rest one of our premier bowlers, I think we'll be in good stead, and it will give experience to the ones who play," he said.
"We're equally confident that the ones who step inthe new guys like Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Muhammad Ali, and even Aamer Jamal to an extent - when they step in, whether Shaheen or Naseem Shah or another isn't available, they all offer something that can win Pakistan games and pick those 20 crucial wickets," he added.
Pakistan's upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh begins on August 21 in Rawalpindi.
Shaheens clinch third win in Darwin
Pakistan Shaheens clinched their fourth win in the Top End T20 series when they defeated Bangladesh 'A' by three wickets at the TIO Stadium in Darwin on Friday evening.
This was Shaheens' third successive win after they had beaten Tasmania and Melbourne Renegades by five and four wickets, respectively.
Chasing 142 to win, Shaheens' opening pair of Mohammad Haris and Sahibzada Farhan provided a brisk start as they stitched a 47-run partnership for the first wicket of just 34 balls.
Right-handed batter Haris was the first to return to the pavilion after scoring 32 off 18 balls, smashing two fours and three towering sixes. Farhan was dismissed after scoring 17 off 21 balls, which included one boundary.
Abdul Faseeh contributed just nine as Shaheens were 65 for three in 8.3 overs. Omair Bin Yousuf and Usman Khan then got together to add crucial 46 runs for the fourth wicket.
After Usman's (19b, 16, 1x4) departure, Mubasir (two off five), Omair (37, 29b, 3x4s, 1x6) and Mohammad Abbas Afridi (nought) fell in quick succession leaving Shaheens 123 for seven in 17 overs.
Muhammad Irfan Khan and Jahandad Khan helped Shaheens achieve the target with eight balls to spare.
Earlier, after opting to bowl first, Shaheens restricted Bangladesh 'A' to 141 for five courtesy a three-fer by left-arm wrist spinner Faisal Akram. Faisal ended with match figures of 4-0-10-3 including 15 dot balls whereas Abbas and Mubasir snapped a wicket each.
For Bangladesh 'A', Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby and Shamim Hossain knitted an unbroken 83-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Mahfuzur scored 41 off 32 balls, which included five fours and a six, while Shamim top-scored for his side with a 38-ball 44, hitting five fours.
Pakistan Shaheens will now take on ACT Comets in their next match tomorrow at the DXC Arena.
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