Pakistan A squad named for Top End series

KARACHI, June 28 (Reuters) Pakistani selectors have named five test players in a 14-member A squad for the Top End series in Australia next month.

Batsman Misbah-ul-Haq, 32, who has appeared in five tests and 12 one-day internationals, will lead the Pakistan A side in the month-long series of one-day games, Twenty20 matches and four-day fixtures in Darwin and Cairns from July 5.

The other test players are Mohammad Hafeez, Bazid Khan, Hasan Raza and Mohammad Khalil.

''It is going to be a good learning experience for our players because playing in Australia is always a challenge because of their high standards,'' coach Sabih Azhar said.

Pakistan will compete with A teams from Australia, New Zealand, India and the Northern Territories in the month-long competition.

Pakistan A won the Eurasia Cup in Abu Dhabi in May after beating India in the final.

Pakistan A squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Bazid Khan, Hasan Raza, Mohammad Hafeez, Rifatullah Mohmand, Shahid Yousuf, Mansoor Amjad, Abdul Rehman, Mohammad Salman, Mohammad Khalil, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Irshad, Wasim Khan, Akhtar Ayub.

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