Three young Pakistani batters good enough for Test call-up

Pakistan still have a slim mathematical chance to reach the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s in June 2025, but the task ahead is daunting.

Currently, Pakistan are languishing in eighth place in the WTC standings, with a points percentage (PCT) of just 19.05%. Although they have secured two victories in this cycle, their total of 16 points has been reduced by an 8-point penalty due to a slow over rate.

Pakistan's path ahead includes a three-match home series against England in October, a two-Test tour of South Africa from December to January, and a two-Test home series against the West Indies in January 2025. To keep their qualification hopes alive, Pakistan must win all seven remaining Tests without incurring any further penalties, which would elevate their PCT to 59.52%. Notably, this PCT was enough for India to qualify for the last WTC final, where they had a PCT of 58.8%.

However, even if Pakistan achieve this, their fate is not entirely within their control. They will need favorable outcomes from other matches, particularly hoping that Australia and New Zealand, currently occupying the second and third spots in the standings, drop points. India currently top the WTC standings with a PCT of 68.52%, followed closely by reigning champions Australia at 62.50%.

The way forward

One of the major challenges for Pakistan is the current form of their star batter, Babar Azam. He has gone 16 Test innings without scoring a half-century, which has significantly affected the team’s performance.

Pakistan's Babar Azam has been struggling in Test cricket for some time.AFP

Abdullah Shafique is another batter struggling for form, with just one fifty in his last ten Test innings.

England, who will tour Pakistan in October, are in high spirits, having won their last five Tests, whereas Pakistan have lost their last five. The last time England toured Pakistan, they inflicted a historic whitewash on the hosts.

For new coach Jason Gillespie, the remainder of this WTC cycle is more about rebuilding for the future and strengthening the bench.

The Australian has made bold decisions, such as resting key fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah and rewarding domestic performers like Khurram Shehzad and Mir Hamza.

Should Pakistan lose the first Test against England, their chances of reaching the WTC final would be over, giving Gillespie the opportunity to rest out-of-form batters, who are low on confidence, and provide chances to promising youngsters waiting in the wings.

Here are three young Pakistani batters who have been making a strong case for selection:

Muhammad Huraira

Muhammad Huraira hit 221 in a chart-topping season in 2022.PCB

Sialkot’s Muhammad Huraira was named in Pakistan's Test squad for the series against Bangladesh but didn’t get a chance to play, as Shan Masood opted to give Saim Ayub an extended run.

The 22-year-old earned his selection following an impressive 218-run innings for Pakistan Shaheens against Bangladesh's High Performance XI during a four-day match in Darwin in July.

A prolific right-handed opener, Huraira has consistently made his mark in domestic cricket. In his first two seasons of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, he emerged as the leading run-scorer.

One of his most remarkable accomplishments is becoming the second-youngest Pakistani to hit a first-class triple century at age 19. He achieved this feat in the 2021-22 season, his debut year, smashing 311 runs off 343 balls against Balochistan in Karachi. That season, he accumulated a total of 986 runs at an impressive average of 58.

In the following season (2022-23), Huraira's performance was even more extraordinary. He became the only batter to score over 1000 runs in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, amassing 1,024 runs at an exceptional average of 73.14 across 11 matches. His contributions were instrumental in leading Northern to their first-ever first-class title.

Huraira's stellar form continued during Pakistan Shaheens' tour of Zimbabwe last year, where he scored 178 and 64 against Zimbabwe A in Kwekwe and Mutare, respectively.

Omair Bin Yousuf

Omair bin Yousuf top-scored with 88 against Sri Lanka A in semi-final of 2023 Emerging Asia Cup.Asian Cricket Council

Omair bin Yousuf, a promising 25-year-old cricketer from Karachi, has been making a significant impact in both domestic cricket and for Pakistan Shaheens on multiple international tours. His talent has not gone unnoticed, with even Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam, naming him among the country's future stars.

During Pakistan Shaheens' tour to Darwin in July this year, Omair played a crucial role in their victory against Bangladesh's High Performance XI in a four-day match. His century, scored off 123 balls in the second innings, helped the Shaheens set a challenging target. This effort contributed to their eventual 148-run win.

His exploits extend beyond that. During last year’s tour to Zimbabwe, Omair dominated the red-ball format, finishing as the leading run-scorer with 348 runs from three innings in two four-day games. His unbeaten 250 in the first match was a standout performance. He also excelled in the white-ball series, amassing 275 runs in four matches, including a maiden List A century (153) in the fourth game.

Omair further cemented his reputation as a talented batter during the 2023 ACC Men's Emerging Cup, where he scored 183 runs in five innings, including a half-century.

Ali Zaryab

Pakistan's Ali Zaryab cuts one square against South Africa during 2018 Under-19 World Cup in Christchurch.ICC

Ali Zaryab is an emerging talent in Pakistani cricket, known for his impressive batting skills. He first gained recognition during the 2018 Under-19 World Cup, where he was Pakistan’s top run-scorer, scoring 164 runs at an average of 54.66.

A left-handed batter, Zaryab has since progressed through the domestic circuit, showcasing his abilities over several seasons. His standout performance came in the 2023 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, where he scored 644 runs in just seven innings, averaging 92. His remarkable consistency included three centuries and a fifty.

Zaryab’s domestic success earned him a spot in the Pakistan Shaheens' squad, where he continued to impress. Opening the innings against Bangladesh 'A' last month, he played a resilient knock of 107 runs.

The 25-year-old has a wealth of experience with 38 first-class matches to his name, contrasting with other young Pakistani players like Abdullah Shafique, who made his Test debut after just three first-class appearances.