The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the squad for the second and third Test matches against England. Alongside Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi, the selectors have dropped two other players from the team, stating that they will receive rest. The second Test will occur on October 15, and the final Test will take place on October 24 in Multan and Rawalpindi .
In their statement, the PCB highlighted that the selectors considered the current form and fitness of key players while planning for Pakistan’s performance in the upcoming 2024-25 international cricket season. As a result, they decided to rest Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Sarfraz Ahmed, and Shaheen Shah Afridi. Abrar Ahmed, who is recovering from dengue fever, was also unavailable for selection.
The selectors have replaced these four players with Hasibullah, Mehran Mumtaz, Kamran Ghulam (all uncapped), fast bowler Mohammad Ali, and off-spinner Sajid Khan. Noman Ali and Zahid Mahmood, initially part of the first Test squad but later released, have rejoined the 16-man squad
Aqib Javed, a member of the men’s national selection committee, stated that selecting the team for the upcoming Test matches against England posed a significant challenge. He emphasized the importance of evaluating player form, the urgency of returning to the series, and Pakistan’s busy international schedule for 2024-25. Taking these factors into account, the selectors opted to rest key players for the benefit of Pakistan cricket and the players themselves.
Additionally, Maz Sadaqat and Rohail Nazir have joined the squad, replacing Hasibullah and Mehran Mumtaz, who participated in the Pakistan Shaheens squad for the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Team Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in Oman starting October 18.
The final squad includes: Shaan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Amir Jamal, Abdullah Shafiq, Hasibullah (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Hurairah, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Saeem Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, and Zahid Mahmood.