Pakistan call up Iftikhar Ahmed, Wasim Jr for first Test against Australia

Pakistan have called up middle-order Iftikhar Ahmed and pacer Mohammad Wasim Jr for the first Test against Australia in Rawalpindi. They will replace injured duo Faheem Ashraf and Hasan Ali in the squad for the series opener.

The duo will join the team preparations in Islamabad after a three-day hotel isolation and after clearing their COVID-19 tests. Despite being sidelined for the opening match, Hasan and Ashraf are expected to regain match fitness for the second Test at Karachi beginning on March 12.

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, and Zahid Mahmood