Pakistan’s Squad For England Series: Bold Selections Or Safe Bets?

Just a day after the much-hyped “Connection Camp,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced their 15-man squad for the first Test against England, set to take place in Multan from October 7-11. And guess what? Shan Masood is still captain.

A lot of fans were wondering if Masood would continue leading the team after Pakistan’s dismal 2-0 series loss to Bangladesh earlier this month. Pakistan haven’t won a Test in their last five attempts, and on home soil, the winless streak stretches to 10 matches. Despite all the chatter and scrutiny, Masood stays in charge.

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Familiar Faces, With a Few Tweaks

The squad isn’t drastically different from the one that faced Bangladesh, but there are some notable changes. The big news is that fast-bowling allrounder Aamer Jamal is back in the lineup. Jamal was a standout during the 2023-24 tour of Australia but missed the Bangladesh series due to a back injury.

His return is a major boost for Pakistan, especially since he made an impressive comeback in the Champions Cup, taking five wickets in two matches for the Shaheen Afridi-led Lions. His skills with both the bat and ball will be key if Pakistan hopes to challenge England.

On the flip side, Khurram Shehzad, who featured against Bangladesh, won’t be playing. He picked up a side injury during the second Test and hasn’t fully recovered.

Another noteworthy return is that of 37-year-old left-arm spinner Noman Ali. He didn’t get a chance in the Bangladesh series but brings a wealth of experience to the side. With 47 wickets in 15 Tests, Noman will be leading the spin attack alongside young Abrar Ahmed. There’s also some support from part-timers like Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, and the rising star, Saim Ayub.

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Saim Ayub: The Young Gun on the Rise

Speaking of Saim Ayub, the 22-year-old is making waves. While his white-ball performances initially raised some eyebrows, he impressed in the Bangladesh Test series with two crucial half-centuries.

His stock is rising even further in the ongoing Champions Cup, where he’s been showing off his all-round abilities. He even captained the Panthers in Shadab Khan’s absence, scoring a magnificent 156 runs.

Oh, and just yesterday, he took five wickets in the playoff match against the Markhors. It’s safe to say Ayub is making himself an indispensable player for Pakistan and could be a key figure in the England series.

Who Didn’t Make the Cut?

Top-order batter Kamran Ghulam and fast bowler Mohammad Ali, who were part of the Bangladesh series squad, didn’t make it this time. According to the PCB, both are still in the selectors’ long-term plans but have been dropped for this Test to keep consistency in selection. They’ve been advised to stay match-ready by playing in the ongoing Champions One-Day Cup and the upcoming President’s Cup.

The players selected for the England series have been withdrawn from the Champions Cup playoffs to give them some rest ahead of the big games. The squad will gather in Multan on September 30, with pre-series training starting on October 1.

Pakistan Squad for First Test Against England

Shan Masood (capt), Saud Shakeel (vice-capt), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Shaheen Shah Afridi.

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