Sarfaraz named head coach for Bangladesh Test

Pakistan have included four uncapped players in a 16-man squad for next month’s two-Test series in Bangladesh, while former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed takes over as head coach. Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais and Ghazi Ghori earned maiden call-ups, with only Ghori having prior international exposure after featuring in a One-Day International against Bangladesh last month in Mirpur. Test captain Shan Masood will continue to lead the side, supported by a revamped coaching staff that includes Sarfaraz, alongside former internationals Asad Shafiq as batting coach and Umar Gul as bowling coach. Sarfaraz, who retired from international cricket last month, famously led Pakistan to the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy title and recently served as mentor of the Pakistan Shaheens during their tour against England Lions earlier this year. Among the selected players, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Ghazi Ghori, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan are currently attending a red-ball conditioning camp at Lahore’s National Cricket Academy. The remaining squad members — except those involved in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 — will assemble for a training camp in Karachi from April 27 to May 1, the Pakistan Cricket Board said. Players still competing in the PSL will join after their commitments, with the full squad scheduled to depart for Bangladesh on May 2. Those involved in the PSL final on May 3 will travel immediately after the match. The two-Test series will be held in Dhaka from May 8-12 and in Sylhet from May 16-20. Squad: Shan Masood (capt), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi.