Former Pakistan skipper, Babar Azam, has expressed his unwavering confidence in the emerging talent gearing up for the upcoming three-match Test series against Australia. 

During the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee, Zaka Ashraf’s visit to the training camp in Pindi, Babar highlighted the golden opportunity for the new faces in the squad and particularly emphasized the promising chances for the newly appointed Test captain Shan Masood.

“Almost all of them are the same guys, but for the new guys, it’s a golden opportunity, and Shan Masood also has a great chance. Wherever you go, you try to dominate; it’s not about going there and not being able to dominate, we can do it, we have the ability, and we take it forward in our own way. Whatever work we do, as a team, we are united. We will take experience from Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Gul, and Saeed Ajmal. Things don’t just come all at once; they come from sharing and from experience. The more we share with each other, the more help it will be,” Babar Azam said.

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— ZAINI 🇵🇰 (@Zaini_16) November 24, 2023

On November 15, the 29-year-old stepped down from captaincy in all formats following a meeting with the PCB chief.

The board then appointed Shan Masood as the Test captain of Pakistan Men’s Cricket Team, while Shaheen Shah Afridi was named T20I captain.

Pakistan squad for Australia Tests: Shan Masood (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Australia tour schedule:

• Four-day match: PM’s XI vs Pakistan – December 6-9: Manuka Oval, Canberra
• 1st Test – Australia vs Pakistan – December 14-18: Perth Stadium
• 2nd Test – Australia vs Pakistan – December 26-30: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
• 3rd Test – Australia vs Pakistan – January 3-7: Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG)