Pakistan Playing 11 for 1st Test vs Bangladesh: Mohammad Ali Returns as Hosts Opt For Strong Pace Attack

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Pacer Mohammad Ali back in red ball action as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday (August 19) announced their playing eleven for their first Test match against Bangladesh.

The two-match Test series will kick off on August 21 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The two Tests against Bangladesh will mark the first assignment of Jason Gillespie as Pakistan's Test coach.

Mohammad Ali, who last feature in a Test back in 2022, will form a four-man strong pace attack that also includes Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Khurram Shahzad for Pakistan who will play against Bangladesh in the first Test match.

Meanwhile, Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha, the two all-rounders, will be the hosts' spin bowling options as well as the middle order options along with skipper Shan Masood and star batter Babar Azam.

Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub, who opened the batting in the last Test outing for Pakistan in Australia earler this year, will continue to serve in the role, while Mohammad Rizwan also gets to keep the gloves behind the stumps over experience wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed.

Pakistan's line-up for the first Test was impacted when fast bowling all-rounder Aamir Jamal was forced to be released from the squad, ruling him out of the series due to ongoing fitness issues.

Jamal, who suffered a back injury while playing County cricket in England earlier this year, was initially included in Pakistan's squad for the ICC World Test Championship series, pending a fitness clearance.

However, the 28-year-old has not fully recovered from his back problem and has been sent to the National Cricket Academy in Lahore for rehabilitation. Here is a look at Pakistan's playing XI for the first Test against Bangladesh:

Pakistan playing 11 for 1st Test vs Bangladesh

Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (captain), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel (vice captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali.