Karachi: Prof. Syed Sirajul Islam Bukhari, President of the Karachi City Cricket Association KCCA has termed the Pakistan Cricket team for test matches against South Africa, as a fairly balanced outfit competent to face South Africa, the world’s number one team in the upcoming test series.

Bukhari said that Pakistan Test squad has been selected after hard work by national selection committee headed by Iqbal Qasim which includes Captain Misbahul Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Younus Khan, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Taufeeq Umer, Asad Shafiq, Nasir Jamshed, Azhar Ali, Ehsan Adil, Haris Sohail, Faisal Iqbal, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Umer Gul.

Misbahul Haq, Younus Khan and Taufeeq Umer with all rounder Mohammad Hafeez will provide the experience while Azhar Ali, Nasir Jamshed the man of the series in India, Asad Shafiq and Faisal Iqbal will be a happy augury. Umer Gul, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan and youngster Ehsan Adil will provide the fast stuff, while Haris Sohail will be the youngster with great promise.

The comeback of most competent wicket keeper Sarfaraz Ahmed, the Karachi based player who has performed exceptionally well in the recently concluded President’s trophy and the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam trophy, after poor performance by Kamran Akmal during the Indian tour, is a good sign.

In the past KCCA president had expressed discontent after Karachi based players had allegedly faced cold shoulder from the selection committee.

“World’s number one off spinner Saeed Ajmal will be the trump card in bowling for Pakistan team, while return of Abdul Rehman after ban by ECB during last year’s county season for failing a dope test, is a happy sign. All in all it is a good selection. Pakistan team plays its first test match at Johannesburg from 1st February,” Bukhari added.