Amir dropped; Riaz in for two-Test series
karachi — Pakistan have dropped out-of-sorts pace bowler Mohammad Amir from their 17-man squad for next month’s two-Test series against Australia in the UAE, with left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz earning a recall.
Amir, who was handed a fiveyear ban for spot-fixing in 2011, returned to international cricket two years ago and has established himself as a spearhead of their attack, playing in all but one of Pakistan’s 20 Tests in that period.
The 26-year-old, however, failed to take a wicket in three Asia Cup matches this month and was dropped in Pakistan’s two other contests at the six-team, one-day international tournament in the UAE.
Amir’s poor form and his inability to swing the ball on the slow and spin-friendly pitches in the UAE would have likely convinced selectors to seek pace alternatives, where similar conditions during the Test series are expected.
Riaz, meanwhile, who has not played Test cricket since October and was overlooked for Pakistan’s series in England and Ireland earlier this year, is more likely to be able to put pressure on Australia with his reverse swing.
Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed will be backed up as wicketkeeper by Mohammad Rizwan, who played his sole Test against New Zealand in Hamilton almost two years ago.
Australia, who have not won a series in Asia since 2011, play the first Test against Pakistan from Oct. 7 in Dubai. —