Yasir passed fit to face Sri Lanka

Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah has passed a late fitness test and will join the 16-man squad for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.

Yasir’s tally of 149 scalps in 26 Tests makes him the leading wicket-taker for Pakistan since he made his debut in 2014.

Under Mickey Arthur the Pakistan team have been set strict standards for fitness and there was some doubt as to whether he would make the grade.

Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq told Yasir in plain terms that he would not be picked if he didn’t pass the final fitness test.

Inzamam said when announcing the team: “Yasir has been our main bowler for the way he has taken wickets consistently, but he needed to maintain a fitness standard and was told he had to pass the test and he did to get a place in the squad.”

ALSO READ: Tharanga rules himself out of Pakistan series

The second Test in the series will be a day/night affair marking the third such match for Pakistan while Sri Lanka will make their pink ball debut.

Usman Salahuddin and Babar Azam will be tasked with filling the roles performed by retired legends Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan while Srafaz Ahmed leads the side for the first time in the longest format.

There are two uncapped players in the squad in the form of left-arm fast bowler Mir Hamza and spinner Bilal Asif, who has played three ODIs but no Test matches.

Pakistan Test squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Azhar Ali, Shan Masood, Sami Aslam, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Asghar, Bilal Asif, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas, Wahab Riaz

Latest