PAK vs BAN: Major injury blow to Pakistan as hosts lose star pacer ahead of first Test against Bangladesh

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PAK vs BAN: Pakistan, who sent Abrar Ahmed and Kamran Ghulam to player for Pakistan Shaheens in the second four-day match against Bangladesh 'A, have been reduced to a 14-member squad after pacer Aamer Jamal was ruled out ahead of the first Test against Bangladesh from August 21.

Aamer Jamal's participation in the series was subject to fitness, and he failed to recover on time for the series opener in Rawalpindi. The pacer had suffered a back injury while playing County cricket in England earlier this year. He has been sent back to the National Cricket Academy in Lahore to continue his rehabilitation.

The development comes as a major blow for hosts Pakistan as the 28-year-old impressed and all with his Test debut in Australia last year. In the first innings of the third Test in Sydney, he scored 82 runs while batting at number 9, and also picked six wickets in the same innings. He picked a total of 18 wickets from three matches in his debut Test series, and was a strong contender for a place in the Pakistan playing eleven for the first Test against Bangladesh.

Pakistan have taken a big decision to enter the first Test with an all pace attack. Left-arm quick Shaheen Afridi and returning quick Naseem Shah are likely to spearhead a fast bowling group that also includes Khurram Shehzad and Mir Hamza.

Earlier, Wrist spinner Abrar Ahmed was released from the Pakistan squad for the first Test and sent to play for Pakistan Shaheens in the second four-day match against Bangladesh 'A’. Uncapped top-order batter Kamran Ghulam, and he would be leading Pakistan Shaheens in the match which will start from Tuesday, August 20.

Pakistan are currently placed sixth on the World Test Championship standings and will be looking to win the both Tests against Bangladesh to give a shot at qualification for next year's one-off final at Lord's.

Pakistan squad for 1st Test vs Bangladesh: Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Shaheen Afridi