Pakistan names squad for first Test against England in Multan
Pakistan’s cricket selectors revealed a 15-member squad on Tuesday for the first Test against England, scheduled from October 7-11 in Multan.
Following head coach Jason Gillespie’s recommendation, the selected players will sit out the Champions One-Day Cup playoffs to ensure rest ahead of the series.
The squad will assemble in Multan on September 30, with training set to begin on October 1. Notably, left-arm spinner Noman Ali, with 47 wickets in 15 Tests, replaces injured pacer Khurram Shahzad.
Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali, despite not being selected, remain in the selectors’ plans and are encouraged to continue playing in domestic competitions to maintain match readiness.
Coach Gillespie emphasized the importance of rest, stating, “With a busy cricket schedule, it makes sense to give our players some much-needed rest ahead of the series.”
Squad: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), Shaheen Shah Afridi.