No Abrar Ahmed for first Test

The first Test of the two-match series is set to be held in Rawalpindi, starting August 21. On the 17th, the PCB sent out a press release, stating that two players – spinner Abrar Ahmed and top-order batter Kamran Ghulam – had been released from the squad.

The decision was taken to provide both players match practice with the Pakistan Shaheens team, as they have been ruled out of contention for the first Test.

Also read: Who will lead Pakistan's bowling attack for the Bangladesh Tests?

All-out pace for first Bangladesh Test

With that, the PCB confirmed that the first Test will see an all-pace attack, although they did not reveal the exact composition of the bowling lineup. It's usually rare for teams to confirm their balance as far as four days out from a Test.

Seven players currently with the Shaheens team – Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Saud Shakeel – have been called to the main Test squad. Once the four-day Test between Shaheens and Bangladesh A is over, the 15-member squad will be back to its original size of 17.

Among the pace options are Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Aamer Jamal, Khurram Shahzad and Mir Hamza. With Abrar now not in contention, the onus of chipping in with spin rests on part-timers Salman Ali Agha, Saim Ayub and Saud Shakeel.

The last time Pakistan played a home Test, they included three frontline seamers: Naseem, Hamza and Hassan Ali. The frontline spinner was Abrar, and Salman was the secondary spin-bowling option. Jamal's inclusion is subject to fitness, as per the initial release.

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