LAHORE: Pakistan cricketers Babar Azam and Khurram Shahzad have left for Dhaka and joined the national team ahead of the 2-match Test series against Bangladesh.
Both the batsmen, who represented Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, did not travel with the team earlier due to their commitments in the tournament.
They featured in the PSL final, beating the Hyderabad Kingsmen to win the title, and will join the Test team in Dhaka tonight.
Meanwhile, many of Pakistan’s Test support staff have already arrived in Bangladesh and preparations are underway for the upcoming series.
The national side is scheduled to hold its first training session in Dhaka on Monday. The Test series between Pakistan and Bangladesh is part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle.
The first Test will be played from May 8 to 12 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka and the second Test from May 16 to 20 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
Shaun Masood will continue as captain, while four uncapped players – Abdullah Fazal, Amat Butt, Azan Awais and Muhammad Qazi Ghori – have received a call-up to the national team.
Historically, the two teams have faced each other 15 times in the red-ball format, with Pakistan leading the way with 12 wins, Bangladesh with two wins, and one match ending in a draw.
Pakistan squad for Bangladesh series:
Shaun Masood (catch), Abdullah Fazal, Amat Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam ul Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Qazi Ghori (wk), Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Shaki Agha, Salman Ali.