Pakistan have announced a 16-member Test squad for their upcoming two-match tour of Bangladesh next month, with four uncapped players included in the side named by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday. Among them are left-handed openers Abdullah Fazal and Azan Awais, pace-bowling all-rounder Emad Butt, and wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Ghazi Ghori. Ghazi Ghori has previously appeared in one One Day International, while the remaining three are yet to make their international debut.
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Emad Butt
Emad Butt, aged 30, is an experienced pace-bowling all-rounder in Pakistan’s domestic circuit. Since making his first-class debut in 2015, he has played 64 matches, scoring 9,583 runs at an average of 23.48. His batting record includes ten fifties and one century. With the ball, he has taken 205 wickets at an average of 25.55, including nine five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket match performances.
He earned his maiden national call-up following strong performances in the President’s Trophy for PTV. In that competition, he took 32 wickets in seven matches at an average of 19.21, finishing as his team’s leading wicket-taker, while also contributing 206 runs with the bat. He also played a key role in a record-breaking first-class match where PTV bowled out opponents for just 40 runs, achieving the lowest successful run chase in terms of target in first-class cricket history, taking four wickets in that match.
Abdullah Fazal
Abdullah Fazal, 23, was the leading run-scorer in the current President’s Trophy season. Representing State Bank of Pakistan, he scored 622 runs in seven matches at an average of 51.83, including two centuries and two half-centuries. He has also shown strong form in the National T20 Cup, scoring 189 runs in four matches at a strike rate of 167.25.
Since his first-class debut in 2024, Fazal has accumulated 1,828 runs at an average of 41.54, with four centuries and ten fifties. He is currently playing in the Pakistan Super League for Rawalpindi.
Azan Awais
Azan Awais, a left-handed batter who featured in the 2024 Under-19 World Cup, made his first-class debut the same year. In the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, he scored 844 runs at an average of 76.72, the highest in the competition, including four centuries and two half-centuries. His performances helped his side Sialkot secure the tournament title.
In the President’s Trophy, he added 578 runs at 41.28, with two centuries and three fifties. Across his first-class career to date, he has scored 2,673 runs in 33 matches at an average of 48.60, including ten centuries and nine fifties.
Muhammad Ghazi Ghori
Muhammad Ghazi Ghori made his One Day International debut in March against Bangladesh. He has been included in the Test squad following his performances in the President’s Cup, where he scored 531 runs in seven matches at an average of 48.27, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament. His strike rate was 85.92.
Since his first-class debut in 2023, the 23-year-old has played 26 matches, scoring 1,692 runs at an average of 41.26, including three centuries and ten half-centuries.
Player Statistics Overview
| Player Name | First-Class Matches | Runs | Batting Average | Centuries | Fifties | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emad Butt | 64 | 9,583 | 23.48 | 1 | 10 | 205 |
| Abdullah Fazal | Not specified | 1,828 | 41.54 | 4 | 10 | — |
| Azan Awais | 33 | 2,673 | 48.60 | 10 | 9 | — |
| Ghazi Ghori | 26 | 1,692 | 41.26 | 3 | 10 | — |
The inclusion of these four players reflects Pakistan’s continued integration of domestic performers into the Test setup ahead of the Bangladesh series.