Sajid, Salman excited as potential debut looms.

KARACHI -- Rookies Sajid Khan and Salman Ali Agha both expressed their excitement on Sunday being named in the preliminary Pakistan squad for the upcoming first Test against South Africa, which starts from Jan 26 here at the National Stadium.

Addressing virtual media pressers, the pair of 27-year-olds admitted feeling over the moon after new chief selector Mohammad Wasim inducted them in the 20-man party - that will be pruned to 16 players in the lead up to the first of two Tests against the South Africans - after they had a prolific season during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

Off-spinner Sajid - who topped the first-class bowling chart with 67 wickets at 25.08 in 11 appearances for joint champions Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - said his first-time inclusion in the national squad was just reward for the excellent form and consistency he maintained throughout the championship.

'Don't have enough words to thank the Almighty for being so kind because it is a dream for every cricketer to represent the country at the highest level one day,' the Peshawar-born Sajid said. 'I learnt of my selection while sitting in the hotel room with [Khyber Pakhtunkhwa head coach] Abdul Razzaq and some of the team-mates. At that point in time, the feeling inside was incredible and for a while, just couldn't believe that I'd been picked in the Test squad.

'The credit must go to the PCB for restructuring the domestic cricket setup and the players are competing in high-standard competitions across all forms is one big plus point. This season, a number of matches were covered live on television and the media's comprehensive coverage played a huge role in highlighting our performances.

'And opportunities come my way to share the dressing room with fellow player s with some of whom are already stars of Pakistan cricket, it would be simply wonderful for me and others too. To be named in the list of 20 itself is a testimony that if one works really hard, keep on performing consistently, there is every chance of going places.'

Sajid, whose father was a soldier who served the Pakistan Army and who passed away in 2003, revealed he's a big fan of Australia's Nathan Lyon, universally rated currently as the best exponent of off-spin bowling.

'After doosra was outlawed by the ICC and [ex-Pakistan off-spinner] Saeed Ajmal handed a long ban for exploiting that art for many years, I never feared losing heart and kept on practicing the orthodox type of bowling. I envy Nathan Lyon just for that...