Pakistan's open race to partner Azhar

The race to open alongside Azhar Ali on Pakistan's Test tour of Ireland and England heats up this week, with three players chasing one vacancy at the top of the order.

Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed has already indicated that Azhar, the world's 10th ranked Test batsman, will return to the opening position for their tour of the British Isles.

And injury to Shan Masood means left-handed openers Sami Aslam, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq are all battling for one vacancy alongside Azhar for their historic Test against Ireland and two matches against England.

Zaman, uncapped at Test level and the hero of Pakistan's Champions Trophy triumph in the UK last year, has already indicated that he'd be willing to move away from his favoured opening position if he means making his Test debut.

"I am ready to bat at any number for the team's cause," Zaman said last weekend.

"As a professional, it is our duty to play according to the circumstances. I will try my best to do justice no matter where I play."

The touring side's warm-up match against Kent will offer the first opportunity for the hopefuls to press their case, with the locals fresh off a nine-wicket thumping of Durham in the County Championship.

Aslam, the only capped player of the trio, is the incumbent Test opener having partnered Shan Masood in Pakistan's series against Sri Lanka last October, which meant Azhar batted at No.3.

The 22-year-old has posted seven half-centuries since his debut in 2015, including a double of 82 and 70 against England at Edgbaston two years ago, but skipper Sarfraz has indicated it's an open race.

"We will try to send Azhar as the opener," Sarfraz said earlier this month, before Masood was ruled out of the tour due to injury.

"He is somebody who has opened in England before and is an experienced player who has been the backbone of the Test side with his performances for the last four-five years.

"We will be looking to take at least three possible opening combinations with us so that means we will have three openers (Aslam, Zaman and Masood before he was injured)."

Zaman, who opens alongside the 22-year-old Ul-Haq at domestic level, has played just two first-class matches since the end of 2016 but has six centuries to his name against the red ball.

And while he's built his international reputation in white-ball cricket, the left-hander says he can handle to top level in the longest format as well.

"I’ve a good record in four-day cricket, which is why I believe I will be a good addition to the team," he said.

"I’ve played in England already, even though it was in the 50-over format. But I believe that experience will help me immensely and I don’t think I will have any problems adjusting there."

Pakistan's batting has been weakened significantly since the retirements of Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan, who farewelled the international game last May, taking more than 15,000 Test runs and 44 centuries worth of experience with them.