Yasir Shah returns to Pakistan Test squad for first time since August 2021 against Sri Lanka

Pakistan named an 18-man Test squad for their 2-match Test series in Sri Lanka in July. While Babar Azam will lead the team, the highlight of the squad is the return of leg-spinner Yasir Shah.

The 36-year-old leg-spinner returns to the Pakistan Test side for the first time since August 2021. Yasir Shah missed the historic Test series between Pakistan and Australia at home earlier this year due to persistent injury concerns.

However, Yasir has regained full fitness and is available for selection for Tests, the Pakistan Cricket Board said.

Yasir was instrumental in Pakistan's 2-1 victory over Sri Lanka on their last tour of the island in 2015, snaring 24 wickets at 19.33. Yasir played his last Test against West Indies in August 2021.

Pakistan also recalled Salman Ali Agha, who has scored 4,224 runs and taken 88 wickets in first-class, to the Test squad along with Mohammad Nawaz, who was withdrawn from the Australia squad due to an



injury.

Pakistan will depart for Sri Lanka on July 6 and play a practice match before the two Tests, scheduled for July 14 in Galle and July 24 in Colombo, respectively.

"We have selected this squad considering the conditions in Sri Lanka and have equipped the team with the best possible resources," Chief selector Muhammad Wasim said in a statement from PCB.

"Our spin department is boosted with the return of Yasir Shah, who proved himself as a match-winner in Sri Lanka on our last tour and Sajid Khan has made the way for him. The spin department also includes two spin all-rounders in Mohammad Nawaz and Salman Ali Agha and left-arm orthodox Nauman Ali."

Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka Tests: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain, wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood and Yasir Shah.