The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday announced the squad for the first Test of the two-match series against Bangladesh at home starting this month, with pacers Akash Deep and Yash Dayal included in the team and the latter receiving his first call-up.
The two-match series against Bangladesh will be starting from September 19 onwards, with the first Test taking place in Chennai and the second Test from September 27 onwards in Kanpur.
Babar scored a duck in the first innings while he made just 22 runs in the second innings as Pakistan slipped to a ten-wicket loss to Bangladesh in the first Test and are trailing in the series by 1-0. In his last seven Tests and 13 innings, he has scored just 275 runs at an average of 21.15
Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has voiced strong criticism against Pakistan's bowlers and team management following their unexpected 10-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test at Rawalpindi.
Shan Masood-led Pakistan were found to be six overs short during the Test and lost six World Test Championship (WTC) points. On the other hand, Najmul Hossain Shanto-led Bangladesh were docked three points after being found three overs short of the acceptable rate.
Star Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan on Monday was fined 10% of his match fee, and a demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed hope about the hosts making a comeback in the two-match Test series after enduring a historic defeat against Bangladesh in the opening clash.