Pakistan name unchanged squad for Australia Tests

Pakistan have named an unchanged squad for the three-match Test series against Australia next month. Sharjeel Khan and Mohammad Rizwan, who were Pakistan's only inclusions for the Test series against New Zealand, retained their place.

With Misbah-ul-Haq unavailable, Rizwan was handed his debut in the ongoing second Test, but was dismissed for a first-ball duck in the first innings. Sharjeel did not play a game on the tour.

Kamran Akmal, the leading run-scorer in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, and Mohammad Hafeez were considered but the selection panel led by Inzamam-ul-Haq opted to stick with a young squad.

Pakistan played both Tests in New Zealand with three fast bowlers and one spinner in Yasir Shah. With pitches in Australia not conducive to spin bowling, Pakistan were satisfied with allrounder Mohammad Rizwan as the back-up spin option.

The series against Australia begins with a day-night Test in Brisbane on December 15.

Pakistan squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Azhar Ali, Sami Aslam, Sharjeel Khan, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Mohammad Rizwan, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan, Imran Khan