Abrar, Kamran released from first Test squad

Both the players have been named in Pak Shaheens squad for the second four-dayer against BD 'A' in Islamabad

Wrist spinner Abrar Ahmed has been released from the Pakistan Test side and he will now represent Pakistan Shaheens in the second four-day match against Bangladesh 'A', which will start at the Islamabad Club on Tuesday, 20 August.

The decision has been made after the selectors have opted to go with an all-pace attack in the first ICC World Test Championship match against Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, 21 August.

Uncapped top-order batter Kamran Ghulam is the other player to be released from the Pakistan Test side and has been retained in the Pakistan Shaheens side for the second four-day match. He has also been appointed as the captain.

This means the Pakistan Test squad has been trimmed to 15 players, but will be back to its original 17-player strength after the conclusion of the second four-day match when Abrar and Kamran will rejoin the side for the second Test.

Other eight players who have come into the Shaheens side are Abrar Ahmed, Ali Zaryab, Imam Ul Haq, Mohammad Awais Anwar, Niaz Khan, Qasim Akram, Rohail Nazir and Sharoon Siraj.

Irfan hits century as Shaheens qualify for semis

Muhammad Irfan Khan registered his maiden T20 century as Pakistan Shaheens beat Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Comets by 91-runs in their last league game on Saturday in the Top End T20 series at the DXC Arena in Darwin.

With this win, Shaheens secured top position on the points table with five wins in six games and have qualified for the semi-finals along with Adelaide Strikers, Bangladesh 'A' and Northern Territory Strike.

Defending a huge total of 202 runs, the Shaheens made light work of ACT Comets batting line-up as they were bundled out for a mere 111 in 16.1 overs. Only Tyler van Luin (29, 17b, 4x4s, 1x6) and Zak Keogh (26, 20b, 2x4s, 1x6) looked threatening as the duo added 49 runs for fourth-wicket off just five overs but fell in the ninth and tenth over respectively with the scorecard reading 79-5.

Arif Yaqoob bagged figures of 4-36 while Arafat dismissed three batters. Mubasir had two wickets to his name while Faisal Akram picked up one.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, Pakistan Shaheens lost their opening batters, Abdul Faseeh (8, 3b, 2x4s) and Mohammad Haris (15, 13b, 2x4s) in the first and fourth over, respectively.

At this point, Muhammad Irfan Khan and Haseebullah joined forces to take Shaheens out of trouble. The duo put on a mammoth 140-run fifth-wicket partnership off 13 overs. Irfan struck a brilliant century scoring 106 off 56 balls clubbing 14 fours and two sixes before departing in the 19th over. Haseebullah remained unbeaten for 49 which came off 34 balls hitting four boundaries and a solitary six.