Pakistan recall Ashraf, Bilal for Bangladesh Test

Pakistan Saturday recalled all-rounder Faheem Ashraf and off-spinner Bilal Asif for first Test against Bangladesh starting in Rawalpindi next week. Ashraf, 26, showed a lot of promise in his debut Test against Ireland in 2018 when he scored 83 but n faced injury problems and was discarded after South Africa tour in January last year. Bilal, 34, played last of his five Tests against New Zealand in December 2018 and was t selected last year.

Senior batsman Azhar Ali will lead team. Head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq said Ashraf did well in domestic tournament final two months ago. "We have this option of playing a pace bowling allrounder against Bangladesh and Ashraf took five wickets in Quaid-e-Azam trophy final so we have selected him," said Misbah.

first Test starts in Rawalpindi from February 7. Bangladesh had agreed to tour Pakistan in three phases and after playing three Twenty20 internationals returned home earlier this week. y will play first Test and n return again for sole one-day international (April 3) and second Test (April 7-11) -- both in Karachi.

Misbah said Pakistan would have to play at ir best despite beating Bangladesh 2-0 in three-match Twenty20 series, with one match rained off.

"re is guarantee that if a team doesn't do well in one format n it will t do better in or format as well," said Misbah.

"y are a gritty team and will be under pressure." Both Tests are part of ongoing World Test championship contested by top nine teams.

India currently lead championship with 360 points followed by Australia (296), England (146) and Pakistan (80). top two teams in table will play June 2021 final in England.

Squad

Azhar Ali (captain), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Bilal Asif, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah.