LAHORE (Dunya News) – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made significant adjustments to the national team for the second and third Tests against England. Former captain Babar Azam, alongside star fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi, and wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed, have been excluded from the squad for the remaining matches.
The selection committee has briefed the PCB Chairman regarding these changes, which sources suggest were made to manage the players’ workload in line with Pakistan’s upcoming international commitments.
Abrar Ahmed was unavailable for selection due to contracting dengue fever. In place of the rested players, the squad will now feature wicketkeeper Haseebullah, spinner Mehran Mumtaz, batsman Kamran Ghulam, fast bowler Muhammad Ali, and off-spinner Sajid Khan.
Nauman Ali and Zahid Mahmood, who were initially dropped from the squad, have been recalled to complete the 16-member team.
The selection committee acknowledged the difficulty in forming the squad, citing the need to consider Pakistan’s 2024 international schedule. As a result, the decision was made to rest key players like Babar, Naseem, Sarfaraz, and Shaheen.
Pakistan Squad for Second and Third Tests: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Haris, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Nauman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Zahid Mahmood.
