No changes: Pakistan decide against replacing Shehzad, retain same squad

Team management confident that Hafeez’s action will be cleared

KARACHI: The national selection committee led by Moin Khan has decided not to call anyone to fill in for the injured Ahmed Shehzad and have instead retained the rest of the 15 players for the second Test against New Zealand starting Monday.

Shehzad has been advised three weeks of rest after sustaining a blow to his head, which led to a cheekbone fracture. He was hit by a bouncer from New Zealand’s Corey Anderson in the first Test on a career best 176, which dismissed him hit-wicket and also caused him to suffer the fracture.

The in-form opener returned to Pakistan but remains optimistic of regaining fitness within two weeks and representing Pakistan in the third Test, which starts from November 26.

Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 248 runs in the first Test; their third win on the trot after a 2-0 whitewash of Australia and the side is looking to maintain the stability that has given them so much recent success.

“There is only one change to the side that won successive Abu Dhabi Tests against Australia and New Zealand and it is an enforced once, owing to the head injury that Shehzad has suffered,” said team manager and chief selector Moin. “Pakistan is keen and confident of maintaining its winning sequence in the remaining two Tests as well.”

Moin further admitted that it was a blow to lose the opener as he had been in good form and added that the team management will decide who would come into the team in his place. Pakistan have the luxury of having two more openers in the touring party with Taufiq Umar and Shaan Masood both waiting in the wings.

‘Four to five balls under question from Hafeez’

The team received another setback on the eve of first Test win with Muhammad Hafeez’s action being questioned by umpires and the 34-year-old now needs to undergo testing within 21 days.

However, Moin is confident that Hafeez’s action will be cleared. “I’ve received the report from the umpires, and there only four or five deliveries which have been questioned and that isn’t such a high percentage,” said Moin. “During a match, no bowler bowls all the deliveries with a 100 per cent identical action and the angles also change when a bowler tries to bowl quicker or flatter, or depending on whether he is coming around or over the wicket.”

The former wicketkeeper added that they have worked with Hafeez after his action was reported in the Champions League T20. “I’ve no doubts that Hafeez will be cleared,” he said. “He was reported in the Champions League T20 as well, so we’ve done our homework as he worked alongside National Cricket Academy head coach Muhammad Akram in the remedial process. He bowled long spells against Australia owing to that remedial work without any complains.”

Climbing up: Pakistan players promoted in Test rankings

Pakistan players have continued to head in the right direction in the ICC Test Player rankings with Sarfraz Ahmed, Ahmed Shehzad, Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah all achieving their highest career rankings.

In addition to these, skipper Misbahul Haq, who scored an unbeaten 102 in the first innings, has achieved a career-high point rating of 842. Meanwhile, Younus Khan, who also scored an unbeaten 100, has now climbed into fifth place.

Sarfraz is now on 31^st, while Shehzad has vaulted 18 places to 39^th. Among the bowlers, Babar has gained 11 places and is 31^st in the rankings, while Yasir has moved up two places to 35^th.

 

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