Sarfaraz likely to be dropped from Test squad against Australia

• Misbah-ul-Haq has completed preliminary consultation for the T20I and Test series against Australia.
• Mohammad Rizwan and Adnan Akmal are being considered as possible replacement.

Pakistan cricket captain Sarfaraz Ahmed is likely to be dropped from the Test squad for the upcoming series against Australia, scheduled to commence next month Down Under.

As per reports, Pakistan head coach-cum-chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq has completed a preliminary consultation with regional coaches in Faisalabad for the T20I and Test series against Australia, where the issues of fitness and discipline were discussed.

During the consultation, Sarfaraz Ahmed's participation in the Test squad was discussed and it is learnt that Sarfaraz can be dropped from the Tests, whereas, the names of wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan and Adnan Akmal are being considered as possible replacement.

Earlier, it was learnt that middle order batsman Azhar Ali is expected to be given Test captaincy for the upcoming two Test matches in Australia.

Meanwhile, the names of Mohammad Irfan, Rahat Ali, Imran Khan Sr., Samin Gul and Bilawal Bhatti are under consideration as possible bowler’s choice for the tour. In the batting department, the name of Abid Ali, Imamul Haq, Sami Aslam and Shan Masood are under consideration for the tour of Australia.

The squad will be re-consulted before the announcement, with the national team departing for Australia on October 26 for a series of three T20Is and two Tests.

After a disappointing show in the T20I series against Sri Lanka, Pakistan will now face the mighty Australia, Down Under.