Babar Azam And Shaheen Afridi Dropped From Pakistan’s Test Squad

Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah have not been included in Pakistan’s team for the second and third Tests against England. A PCB statement said that these three players have been dropped from the team “keeping in mind the current form and fitness of the main players”.

Fitness concerns on Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah

The decision to drop Pakistan’s three biggest players from the team Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah is certainly quite surprising. After Pakistan’s humiliating defeat in the first Test, captain Shan Masood criticized the performance of the bowlers. For this reason, many changes were expected in the team.

 

Apart from this, Masood and head coach Jason Gillespie had demanded continuity from the players and talked about supporting the players. However, the new selection committee announced on Friday has taken the opposite step.

 

Aaqib Javed, who was appointed to the new selection committee, cited the decline in the form of these players as the reason for not selecting them. He said, “We believe that this break from international cricket will help these players regain their fitness, confidence, and mental stability, which will make them return to a better position for future challenges. They are still among our best players and are ready to contribute to Pakistan cricket. We are committed to fully supporting them during this period so that they can come back even stronger.”

 

Pakistan has included uncapped players Kamran Ghulam, Hasibullah, and spinner Mehran Mumtaz in the team. Along with this, experienced spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali have also been given a place in the team. After giving priority to conditions favorable to fast bowlers at the beginning of the season, it seems that PCB has changed its mind. The same pitch will be used for the second Test in Multan and Pakistan has decided to include an extra spinner in the squad.

The second Test will start in Multan on October 15, while the third Test will be played in Rawalpindi on October 24.

Squad: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafiq, Hasibullah (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha and Zahid Mahmood.

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