Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan will take part in the opening round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, along with three other members of the national Test squad, as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) looks to keep players match-ready ahead of the upcoming Test series against South Africa.
According to the report, Rizwan, Hasan Ali, Salman Ali Agha, and Sajid Khan have all been included in their respective regional sides for the first-class competition. Rizwan and Sajid Khan are set to represent Peshawar Region, while Hasan Ali will turn out for Lahore Whites and Salman Ali Agha for Sialkot.
Sources within the PCB revealed that Chairman Mohsin Naqvi personally instructed selectors to ensure the key Test players participate in the domestic event to maintain form and rhythm ahead of the South Africa series.
The opening round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will conclude on October 9, just two days before the first Test match scheduled at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. The tournament is being played across Abbottabad, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Rawalpindi.
The decision to include national players in the domestic setup has been welcomed by cricket fans and analysts, who believe it will help bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket while giving younger players a chance to share the field with seasoned pros like Rizwan and Hasan Ali.
Pakistan’s Test squad for the South Africa series includes Shan Masood as captain, along with Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Abrar Ahmed, Naseem Shah, and Rohail Nazir, among others.
