Pakistan has abandoned its plans to overhaul the national team after including senior players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi in the Test squad for the two-match series against Bangladesh. The trio came under scrutiny for their performances in the recent T20 World Cup, where Pakistan was eliminated in the opening round. Following defeats against the USA and India, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi hinted at a “major surgery” for the team, fueled by reports of player misconduct during the tournament. However, following advice from foreign head coaches Jason Gillispie and Gary Kirsten, the PCB decided to move on from the World Cup without taking any disciplinary action against the players.
The PCB has retained Shan Masood as the red-ball captain, while Saud Shakeel has been named his deputy, replacing Shaheen, who was the vice-captain for the last Test tour of Australia. The Test squad includes two uncapped players – Mohammad Huraira and Kamran Ghulam. Ghulam was included in the Pakistan Test squad last year but didn’t make his debut. Meanwhile, pacer Mohammad Ali has also been recalled after playing just two Tests against England in 2022.
Of the 17 players chosen for Pakistan’s opening Test series of the 2024-25 season, 13 were part of their last series against Australia in December-January 2023-24. Selectors stated that Huraira, Ghulam, and Mohammad Ali were selected due to their consistent performances in the domestic circuit and for Pakistan Shaheens. Naseem Shah is also back in the red-ball format after recovering from an injury. Players dropped from the last Test series against Australia include opener Imam ul Haq, spinners Noman Ali, Muhammad Nawaz, and Sajid Khan, all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, and pacer Hasan Ali, while Mohammad Waseem Jr. is currently injured. The selectors have also included all-rounder Aamir Jamal in the Test squad, subject to him passing fitness tests.
Pakistan will play two Tests against Bangladesh from August 21 as part of the ICC Test Championship schedule. The national team will participate in a total of nine Tests, 14 T20 Internationals, and 17 ODIs this season both home and away. The selectors also announced the Pakistan Shaheens squad for a series this month against the Bangladesh A side.
