NAPIER, New Zealand: Pakistan Captain Babar Azam along with the left-hand Opener Imam-ul-Haq won’t be featuring in the first Test against New Zealand starting from December 26 at Mount Maunganui.
In Babar’s absence, Mohammad Rizwan will lead Pakistan.
The fifth-ranked Test batsman Babar Azam suffered an injury in his right thumb in the practice session prior to the beginning of the three-match T20I series in New Zealand which caused his ouster from the limited over games.
Imam-ul-Haq also fractured his left thumb during the training session.
The Tour Selection Committee has included the 24-year-old Imran Butt in the 17-player squad for the first Test for his prolific domestic performance.
Pakistan’s first Test Squad:
Mohammad Rizwan (Captain), Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Imran Butt, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Sohail Khan, and Yasir Shah.
The first Test will be followed by another five-day match at Christchurch to begin on January 3, 2021.
Meanwhile, New Zealand has already won the three-match T20 series against Pakistan 2-0.
In the first T20 International at Auckland, the Host emerged victorious by 5 wickets while Pakistan suffered the second consecutive defeat at Hamilton by 9 wickets.
The third and final T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand will take place at Napier on December 22.
