The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has dropped former captain Babar Azam and leading fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah from the squad for the upcoming second and third Tests against England. The PCB said the decision comes after concerns about their recent form and fitness.
Babar, who captained Pakistan in all formats until November, has struggled with his batting form. He hasn’t scored a Test fifty in his last 18 innings, with his highest score of 2024 being just 31, made against Bangladesh in September.
Selector Aqib Javed, a former Pakistan fast bowler, explained that Babar, Shaheen, Naseem, and Sarfaraz Ahmed are rested to help them recover and regain form for future series. Javed emphasized the importance of the players taking a break to rebuild their confidence.
Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, who missed part of the first Test due to dengue fever, was also declared unavailable for selection.
In place of the senior players, uncapped cricketers Haseebullah, Mehran Mumtaz, and Kamran Ghulam have been included in the 16-man squad for the second Test in Multan. Fast bowler Mohammad Ali and off-spinner Sajid Khan have also been named in the team.
Babar’s exclusion surprised many fans, as he hasn’t missed a Test since December 2020. Despite being the top-ranked ODI batsman and once leading all formats, Babar’s recent Test form could have been better, averaging below 21 in his last nine matches.
The PCB recently restructured its selection panel, bringing in former pace bowler Javed, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, and former elite umpire Aleem Dar.
The second Test will begin in Multan on Tuesday, with the final match of the series set for Rawalpindi on October 24.
Squad (for second and third Tests):
Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Zahid Mehmood.
