Pakistan have made big changes to the squad for the second and third Tests against England. In addition to Babar Azam – whose omission ESPNcricinfo reported on Sunday – Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah are also out of the squad. A PCB statement said it had “taken into account the current form and fitness of key players” before leaving out the three players for the remaining two Tests.
The decision to leave out arguably Pakistan’s three highest-profile players is little short of stunning. Pakistan’s chastening innings defeat after the first Test – following which captain Shan Masood criticised the bowling performance – was expected to result in several changes, though Masood and head coach Jason Gillespie called for continuity and asked players to be backed. However, the newly formed selection committee, announced on Friday, has gone the other way.
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Aaqib Javed, one of the new selection committee appointees, hinted at the players’ loss of form as a reason for their omission.
“We are confident that this break from international cricket will help these players regain their fitness, confidence and composure, ensuring they return in top shape for future challenges,” he said. “They remain some of our finest talents with much more to contribute to Pakistan cricket. We are fully committed to supporting them during this period so they can come back even stronger.”
Pakistan have called up the uncapped Kamran Ghulam, Haseebullah and spinner Mehran Mumtaz, as well as seasoned spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali to the squad. Having favoured fast-bowling-friendly conditions at the start of the season, the PCB appear to have had a change of heart; the same strip will be used for the second Test in Multan, with Pakistan set to include an extra spinner in the XI.
The second Test begins in Multan on 15 October, with the third in Rawalpindi starting on 24 October.
Pakistan squad for second Multan Test: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah (wicket-keeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha and Zahid Mehmood.
more to follow…
Source: ESPN Crickinfo
