New Delhi: Pakistan on Friday unveiled two new batting faces as Abdullah Fazl and Azan Owais received their first Test caps for the first Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka.After former captain Babar Azam was ruled out with a left knee injury, Pakistan turned to youth by including left-handed top-order batsmen in the playing XI for the first match of the two-Test series.Go beyond limits with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!Pakistan captain Shan Masood won the toss and elected to field first at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, but much of the pre-match focus was on the two debutants.
Who are Abdullah Fazal and Azan Owais?
Abdullah Fazl, a 23-year-old opening batsman from Karachi, has built a solid reputation in Pakistan’s domestic circuit with consistent performances in first-class cricket. In 25 first-class matches, Fazal has scored 1828 runs at an average of 41.54. His impressive record includes four centuries and 10 fifties, his career best being 182.
He is joined in the XI by 21-year-old Azan Owais from Sialkot, another highly-rated left-arm batsman considered one of Pakistan’s brightest red-ball prospects. Owais made a brilliant start to his first-class career, scoring 2673 runs in 33 matches at an impressive average of 48.60. His tally includes 10 centuries and 9 fifties, while his highest score is an unbeaten 203.Pakistan’s batting line-up for the Test includes Azan Owais, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Fazl, Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan.The visitors also welcomed veteran fast bowler Mohammad Abbas along with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali, while Nouman Ali was selected as the lone specialist spinner.Meanwhile, Bangladesh brought back fast bowler Tasin Ahmed for their first Test since December 2024 after recovering from injury. The bowling attack of the host team also includes Naheed Rana, Ibadat Hussain, Mehdi Hasan Miraz and Tejul Islam.The series marks an important milestone for Pakistan as it begins to rebuild its Test team with a young batting core.
BAN vs PAK Playing XIs:
Bangladesh: Mahmoodul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haq, Najamul Hasan Shanto (captain), Mushfiqul Rahim, Latin Das, Mehdi Hasan Miraz, Tejul Islam, Tasin Ahmad, Ibadat Hussain, Naheed Rana.Pakistan: Azan Owais, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Fazl, Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Muhammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Nouman Ali, Hasan Ali, Muhammad Abbas.
