The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh, scheduled to take place next month. The side will continue to be led by Shan Masood, while a notable change has been made in the coaching structure with the appointment of a new head coach.
Former wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed has been entrusted with the role of Pakistan’s head coach for this series. The position had remained vacant for several months, during which there had been speculation regarding a potential appointment. The board has now formally confirmed Sarfaraz in the role for the Bangladesh tour.
The squad includes four uncapped players: Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, and Mohammad Ghazi Ghori. Their inclusion reflects the selectors’ decision to introduce new talent into the Test setup for this series.
Several members of the squad are currently involved in red-ball preparations at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. Players such as Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori, Noman Ali, and Sajid Khan are part of this training camp. At the same time, a significant number of squad members are participating in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which is ongoing.
According to an official statement from the Pakistan Cricket Board, a preparatory camp will be held in Karachi ahead of the tour. The camp is scheduled to begin on 27 April and will continue until 1 May. Following the conclusion of the camp, the team is set to depart for Bangladesh on 2 May.
Players currently engaged in the PSL will join the national camp after completing their franchise commitments. Those whose teams progress to the PSL final will travel directly to Bangladesh upon the conclusion of the tournament.
The first Test match of the series is scheduled to commence on 8 May at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. The second Test will begin on 16 May at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
For the Bangladesh series, Asad Shafiq has been appointed as the batting coach, while Umar Gul will serve as the bowling coach.
Below is the full 16-member squad for the series:
| No. | Player Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shan Masood (Captain) | Batter |
| 2 | Abdullah Fazal | Batter |
| 3 | Amad Butt | All-rounder |
| 4 | Azan Awais | Batter |
| 5 | Babar Azam | Batter |
| 6 | Hasan Ali | Bowler |
| 7 | Imam-ul-Haq | Batter |
| 8 | Khurram Shehzad | Bowler |
| 9 | Mohammad Abbas | Bowler |
| 10 | Mohammad Rizwan (WK) | Wicketkeeper |
| 11 | Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (WK) | Wicketkeeper |
| 12 | Noman Ali | Bowler |
| 13 | Sajid Khan | Bowler |
| 14 | Salman Ali | All-rounder |
| 15 | Saud Shakeel | Batter |
| 16 | Shaheen Shah Afridi | Bowler |
The tour schedule, squad composition, and coaching appointments have been finalised in preparation for the two-match Test series, with all arrangements proceeding according to the announced timeline.
