Mohammad Asghar called up as backup for injured Yasir Shah

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has added 17-year old spinner Mohammad Asghar to Pakistan’s squad for the three-match Test series against Australia as a backup to Yasir Shah, who was injured during a training session earlier this week.

Yasir sustained a back injury during Pakistan’s training session on Tuesday in Cairns, which ruled him out of Pakistan’s on-going warm-up match against Cricket Australia XI. He was initially advised two days’ rest by the doctors.

However, his availability for the first Test match against Australia remains doubtful and the PCB, on the request of the team management, has included Mohammad Asghar to the squad as a backup player.

“Following back injury to Yasir Shah, the team management had asked the selection committee to call Mohammad Asghar as backup player for the three match Test series against Australia,” said the PCB spokesman.

“The national selection committee has concurred with this request and chairman PCB has approved the name of Mohammad Asghar (for inclusion in team for Australia series),” the spokesman added.

The PCB spokesman further said that Asghar will join the team as 17th member of the squad.

Asghar, who will celebrate his 18th birthday on 28th of this month, first came into limelight during the inaugural edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he represented Peshawar Zalmi team.

His tally of 11 wickets at the average of 18.45 during PSL brought him in contention for selection in the national team.

He was called back from Bangladesh last week, where he was representing Khulna Titans, by his domestic team UBL to play the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match against HBL.

Asghar has 68 wickets to his credit in 17 first class outings and is now very much likely to get the Test cap in Brisbane on 15th December, if Yasir Shah fails to regain fitness in time for the match.