Pakistan Cricket Squad Update
The Pakistan Cricket Board announced the 15-player squad for the ICC World Test Championship Tests against the West Indies. The teams will play the Tests in Multan from 17-21 January and 25-29 January. The selectors made seven changes to the squad that toured South Africa.
Key Changes and Inclusions
Shan Masood will captain the team, with Saud Shakeel as vice-captain. Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan, Noman Ali, and Salman Ali Agha are retained. To strengthen the spin department, selectors have recalled off-spinner Sajid Khan and mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed to partner with left-arm spinner Noman Ali. Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Huraira have taken the places of the injured Saim Ayub and the out-of-form Abdullah Shafique.
Pace Bowlers Rested
As part of workload management, coaches have rested the pace quartet of Aamir Jamal, Mohammad Abbas, Mir Hamza, and Naseem Shah. Additionally, the selectors have retained Khurram Shahzad, recalled Mohammad Ali, and included uncapped Kashif Ali.
Wicketkeeper Addition
In the absence of wicketkeeper-batter Haseebullah, who sustained a split in his right-hand webbing during the Cape Town Test, the selectors have added former Pakistan U19 and Shaheen’s captain Rohail Nazir to the squad.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies Tests
Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper/batter), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper/batter), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha.
Pakistan Cricket Squad Update: Imam-ul-Haq and Abrar Ahmed Recalled
Pakistan recalled discarded opener Imam-ul-Haq for the Test series against the West Indies after an ankle injury forced regular opener Saim Ayub to sit out the series. Imam, who last played a Test for Pakistan in Australia in 2023-24, joins uncapped pacer Kashif Ali. The selectors dropped Abdullah Shafique, who had been opening regularly but lost form on recent tours to Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, leading to Imam’s inclusion.
Spin Department Bolstered
The selectors also recalled spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, who sidelined themselves after leading Pakistan to a 2-1 win over England at home last year. Moreover, they included a third specialist spinner, Abrar Ahmed, indicating that groundskeepers would prepare spin pitches. In addition, the West Indies are playing Tests in Pakistan after 18 years.
Upcoming Tests in Multan
Both Tests will be held in Multan; specifically, the first starting on January 17. Furthermore, the selectors have also rested pace bowlers Naseem Shah, Muhammad Abbas, Mir Hamza, and all-rounder Aamer Jamal, who recently played in the Test series in South Africa that Pakistan won 2-0 to qualify for the World Test Championship final.
