Pakistan has made some key changes to their Test squad for the upcoming series against England, with the return of star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and experienced left-arm spinner Noman Ali. The announcement came on Tuesday, as the selectors unveiled a 15-member squad for the first Test, scheduled to begin on October 7th in Multan.
Afridi’s return to the team comes after he was dropped for the second and final Test against Bangladesh earlier this month due to a dip in form. His inclusion adds significant firepower to the Pakistan bowling attack, which will be looking to bounce back from the disappointing series loss to Bangladesh.
Noman Ali, who was not considered for the Bangladesh series, has also been brought back into the fold. His inclusion is a clear indication that Pakistan is prioritizing experience and spin bowling expertise for the England series. Ali replaces pace bowler Khurrum Shehzad, who is still recovering from an injury sustained during the home series against Bangladesh.
Another notable inclusion is all-rounder Aamer Jamal, who was unable to participate in the Bangladesh series due to a fitness issue. Jamal has been retained in the squad, adding further depth to the Pakistan team.
The rest of the squad comprises players who were part of the Pakistan team for the two Tests against Bangladesh. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also announced that head coach Jason Gillespie has requested the selected players to be withdrawn from the ongoing Champions Cup ODI event in Faisalabad. This decision aims to allow the players to rest and prepare for the challenging series against England.
With the exception of a few players, the majority of the selected players, including Shan Masood and Babar Azam, were participating in the playoffs of the Champions Cup.
Here is the complete Pakistan Test squad:
* Shan Masood (Captain)
* Saud Shakil (Vice-Captain)
* Babar Azam
* Muhammad Rizwan
* Abdullah Shafique
* Muhammad Huraira
* Saim Ayub
* Salman Ali Agha
* Sarfaraz Ahmed
* Aamer Jamal
* Noman Ali
* Abrar Ahmed
* Mir Hamza
* Shaheen Shah Afridi
* Naseem Shah
The return of key players like Shaheen Afridi and Noman Ali signals a strong intent from Pakistan to challenge England in the upcoming series. The focus on experience and a well-structured preparation plan will be crucial factors for Pakistan’s success in the highly anticipated Test series.
