Pakistan vs Australia: Mohammad Hafeez Recalled For Test Series To Reinforce Batting

With Pakistan's batting failures in the Asia Cup as a backdrop, the country's national selection committee on Monday included former opener Mohammad Hafeez in the Test squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Australia. The 37-year-old, who was originally not picked in the 17-member squad, has been brought into the team to reinforce the batting department. "The national selection committee and the team management has decided to include Hafeez for the two Tests against Australia," said the Pakistan Cricket Board in a statement.

Pakistan had a poor outing in the Asia Cup where they failed to qualify for the final. They suffered losses at the hands of arch-rival India and Bangladesh as the batting department failed to fire in the crucial games. Considering the poor form of the top order, the squad reached out to Hafeez.

Pakistan had previously nursed high hopes for Shan Masood in the ongoing four-day match for Pakistan 'A' against Australia in Dubai but he fell for just 14, forcing the selectors to include Hafeez.

Hafeez last represented Pakistan against England in Birmingham in August 2016.

Hafeez has played 50 Tests in which he has scored 3,452 runs at an average 39.22 with nine centuries to his name.

Last week he scored a double-hundred in a domestic first-class match, catching the eye of selectors.

Revised Test squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (capt), Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, Bilal Asif, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan.

(With AFP inputs)

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