Fakhar Zaman not included as Pakistan announces squad for 3rd Test

Opening batsman Fakhar Zaman, failed to make into the Pakistan 15-men squad announced on Tuesday, for the third and final Test against New Zealand starting in Abu Dhabi next week.

The National Selection Committee headed by Inzamam ul Haq after consultation with Captain Sarfraz Ahmed and Head Coach Mickey Arthur retained the 15-member Test squad for the final encounter against New Zealand.

Zaman exclusion comes despite Pakistan’s lackluster batting performance at the top, senior batsman Mohammad Hafeez in particular has been struggling with his form ever since scoring a hundred in his comeback Test against Australia in UAE last month.

He has only managed to accumulate 66 runs in the six innings, since then. Hafeez has scores of 20, 10 and nine in the two Tests against New Zealand.

With the series leveled 1-1, the third penultimate Test match between Pakistan and New Zealand will be played in Abu Dhabi from Monday, December 3.

SQUAD: Muhammad Hafeez, Imam Ul Haq, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Baber Azam, Saad Ali, Sarfraz Ahmad (Captain), Yasir Shah, Bilal Asif, Muhammad Abbas, Hassan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Faheem Ashraf and Mir Hamza