Former captain Babar Azam has finally been dropped from Pakistan’s Test team. Along with Babar, several other senior players have also been excluded. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made this announcement. The new selection committee has announced the squad for the second and third Tests against England, and Babar Azam has not been included. This marks the first time in his career that Babar has been dropped due to poor form.
Fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed have also been left out of the team, as their performances have not been up to par in recent times. A young player has been selected to replace Sarfaraz Ahmed.
Sajid Khan has been brought into the Test team in place of Babar Azam. Sajid last played a Test match in Sydney in January. Abrar Ahmed is unlikely to recover in time for the second Test, as he is currently hospitalized in Multan. He was unable to bowl on the fourth day of the first Test and has been ruled out for the entire series.
In a statement released by the Pakistan Cricket Board on behalf of the selection committee, it was mentioned, “Considering the current form and fitness of key players, and looking ahead to Pakistan’s future matches in the 2024-25 international cricket season, the selectors have decided to rest Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Shaheen Shah Afridi. Abrar Ahmed (who is recovering from dengue fever) was not available for selection.”
New Faces in the Team
Left-arm spinner Meharan Mumtaz has been included in the squad, bringing with him 19 first-class matches of experience and 54 wickets in first-class cricket. Young wicketkeeper-batsman Haseebullah Khan has also been selected; he has played one T20 International and has 21 first-class matches to his name, scoring 923 runs, including four centuries and three half-centuries.
Pakistan’s Team for the Second and Third Tests
- Shan Masood (captain)
- Saud Shakeel
- Aamer Jamal
- Abdullah Shafique
- Haseebullah (wicketkeeper)
- Kamran Ghulam
- Meharan Mumtaz
- Mir Hamza
- Mohammad Ali
- Mohammad Huraira
- Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper)
- Salman Ali Agha
- Saim Ayub
- Noman Ali
- Sajid Khan
- Zahid Mahmood