Pakistan Releases Mir Hamza for Rehabilitation
An image of Mir Hamza© AFP
In a recent development, the Pakistan Cricket Board has announced that fast bowler Mir Hamza will be released from the Test squad. This decision comes on the opening day of the third and final Test against England, held in Rawalpindi, allowing him to continue his rehabilitation process in Karachi. The left-arm pacer has been nursing a minor strain in his right glute muscle and did not participate in any training sessions prior to this crucial match. Instead, he was seen performing band rehabilitation exercises alongside the team physiotherapist.
Recent Squad Integrations and Performance
Mir Hamza was part of both the initial squad and made a return for the last two Tests; however, he didn’t play in any of the matches throughout this series. His last appearance on behalf of Pakistan came during a second Test against Bangladesh earlier this year at Rawalpindi, where he secured 12 wickets across 12 innings with an average performance rate of 42.08.
Initially, Pakistan’s strategy involved selecting three fast bowlers—Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, and Aamir Jamal—but as conditions favored spin bowling later on in the series, they shifted their approach to include three specialist spinners along with just one pace option: Jamal. Aamir Jamal’s ability to contribute more effectively with bat compared to other pace bowlers ultimately sidelined Hamza from featuring in match play before injury concerns prevented him from participating further.
This adjustment reflects not only strategic planning but also adapts to playing conditions which have increasingly leaned towards spinning advantages during significant matches.
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