Islamabad
Former Skipper Rashid Latif has named Mohammad Rizwan as the wicket-keeper in his probable Pakistan Playing XI for the first Test against England, starting from August 5 at Old Trafford, Manchester.
Pakistan was scheduled to take on England in three Tests and three Twenty20s, to be played from August 5 to September 1.
Rashid, who scored 1,381 runs in 37 Tests, said the Men in Green would rely on specialists rather than including an all-rounder in the playing XI.
“They will go with six batsmen, Rizwan as wicketkeeper, three fast-bowlers and Yasir Shah as spinner. Shan Masood can also bowl medium pace, so you can use him from 6 to 8 overs while spreading the field,” Rashid said while speaking on his YouTube channel ‘Caught Behind’ as quoted by cricketpakistan.com.pk.
“Currently, we don’t have an all-rounder that we can depend on,” Rashid, who served as Pakistan captain in 2003, leading the country in 6 Tests and 25 ODIs said.
Rashid, who scored 1,709 runs in 166 ODIs, also included middle-order batsman Fawad Alam in the playing XI, who has more than 12,000 first class runs at an average of 56.78. Fawad’s inclusion can bring an end to his decade-long Test cricket drought, as the middle-order batsman last represented Pakistan in the longest format in 2009.
Rashid, who played for Pakistan in Test cricket and ODIs, between 1992 and 2003 as a wicket keeper right-handed batsman, didn’t pick Sohail Khan in his team, despite the veteran pacer impressing in the practice matches with two five-wicket hauls.—APP
