Masood reveals why Saim Ayub was retained, explains Imam-ul-Haq's exclusion from squad

Pakistan's Test captain, Shan Masood, has addressed the team's strategic decisions and player selections for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, which starts in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

During the pre-series conference on Tuesday, Masood explained the management's decision to retain Saim Ayub in the playing XI for the Rawalpindi Test, despite the inclusion of Muhammad Huraira, who impressed with a double century against Bangladesh ‘A’ during the recent Darwin tour.

Masood highlighted the importance of continuity in team selections, stating, "Saim demonstrated his potential in the second innings of the last Test match. As a team, it's crucial to send a message about continuity. Since he showed promise, we're committed to backing our players."

He further emphasized the team's approach to providing players with consistent opportunities, particularly with Saim Ayub.

"Whenever we bring someone into the team, we want to ensure they get a fair opportunity to play. We're trying to implement this approach with Saim, and he seems to be in good touch," Masood added.

Acknowledging the depth of talent in Pakistan's batting lineup, Masood noted the challenge of accommodating all deserving players within the squad.

"We have an abundance of talented openers. Unfortunately, Imam-ul-Haq is not part of this series, but he remains a vital member of our Test squad. We can only select 17 players, even though we have around 20 to 25 who are in contention and will continue to be so," he remarked.

Masood also addressed the decision to rest Imam-ul-Haq for the series, highlighting the need to give opportunities to emerging players like Muhammad Huraira.

"Sometimes you have to assess if a particular series is the right time to introduce someone like Huraira, who has consistently performed in domestic cricket over the past 3-4 years. That's why we decided to rest Imam for this series," he explained.

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