Islamabad, – The Pakistan cricket selectors have officially announced a 15-player squad for the upcoming first Test against England, scheduled to take place in Multan from October 7 to 11.
In a strategic move, head coach Jason Gillespie recommended that the selected players be withdrawn from the Champions One-Day Cup playoffs to allow them vital rest ahead of the series. The squad is set to assemble in Multan on September 30, with the training camp commencing on October 1.
Squad for the 1st Test:
- Shan Masood (Captain)
- Saud Shakeel (Vice-Captain)
- Aamir Jamal
- Abdullah Shafique
- Abrar Ahmed
- Babar Azam
- Mir Hamza
- Mohammad Huraira
- Mohammad Rizwan (Wicketkeeper)
- Naseem Shah
- Noman Ali
- Saim Ayub
- Salman Ali Agha
- Sarfaraz Ahmed (Wicketkeeper)
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
Notably, left-arm spinner Noman Ali, who boasts an impressive record of 47 wickets in 15 Tests, has replaced the injured fast bowler Khurram Shahzad.
Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali, who were part of the squad for the recent Bangladesh Tests, remain integral to the selectors’ plans. However, due to the emphasis on consistency and continuity within the selection policy, they have been encouraged to continue representing their teams in the Champions One-Day Cup and the upcoming President’s Cup, starting October 3, to ensure they remain competitive.
Coaching Insights:
Jason Gillespie, Pakistan's head coach for red-ball cricket, stated, “With a busy domestic and international cricket schedule, it makes sense to give our players some much-needed rest ahead of the Test series against England. We are very much looking forward to the series here in Pakistan and cannot wait for it to begin. We are excited about playing in front of our wonderful supporters.”
This series is poised to be a significant challenge for Pakistan as they aim to establish dominance against a formidable England side on home turf
