PAK vs AUS: Pakistan captain Shan Masood drops hints on bowling combination for 1st Test in Perth, two spots fixed

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PAK vs AUS: Pakistan captain Shan Masood has dropped hints on Pakistan bowling combination for their first Test against Australia starting December 14 in Perth. The comments from Masood came amid Pakistan's 4-day match against Prime Ministers XI in Canberra.

Pakistan have used a total of seven bowling options in the match including former captain Babar Azam. Pacers Khurram Shahzad, Faheem Ashraf and spinner Abrar Ahmed have picked a wicket each in the match.

Masood almost confirmed that senior pacers Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali, who have been rested for the practice game, would form the core of the bowling unit. He also praised 25-year-old leg-spinner Abrar.

"Obviously Shaheen and Hasan are senior bowlers, they are probably pencilled in, but you want to look at everyone and give them a fair run before you make that ultimate decision.

"Spinners are crucial and we've seen that with the Australian team, how good Nathan Lyon has been for a number of years. A spinner plays an important role, he's very complimentary to the fast bowlers in these conditions," Shan Masood said.

"Abrar has done really well for us, he's taken a lot of wickets against good sides and we'll be hoping he does the same on this tour."

Abrar Ahmed was the joint leading wicket-taker during Pakistan's Test series against Sri Lanka earlier. Masood added that the team would ponder upon various combinations and the pitch conditions will also play a huge role in filling the remaining spots.

"The permutations on the structure if the side matters as well - do we go with an all-rounder, what will the role of the spinner be?

"We'll only be able to decide when we get closer to the game, see the pitch, see the conditions, see where the guys are at with their fitness and their loads. You have to look at the opposition as well, match-ups, or type of bowling, is huge in cricket now," he added.

In case, Pakistan opt to play a pace-bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf could be one of the starters for the Perth Test. Left-arm pacer Mir Hamza would be another bowling option which could tempt Pakistan.

Pakistan squad for Test series vs Australia: Shan Masood (c), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi.