Pakistan has confirmed Shan Masood as their captain for the opening match of the three-Test series against England, commencing in Multan on October 7. Aamer Jamal has been included in the 15-member squad after recovering from a back injury, while Khurram Shahzad, who claimed six wickets in the second Test against Bangladesh, will not participate due to incomplete recovery from a left-side injury.
Left-arm spinner Noman Ali, who did not play in the Bangladesh series, returns as a second frontline spin option alongside Abrar Ahmed.
There was some debate regarding Masood’s captaincy following Pakistan’s 2-0 home series defeat to Bangladesh earlier this month. However, he continues in his role as Pakistan aims to break a streak of poor results in Test cricket, having lost their last five matches under his leadership and currently sitting on a 10-match winless streak in home Tests.
On a positive note, the fast-bowling allrounder Jamal, who excelled during Pakistan’s 2023-24 tour of Australia, is back in the squad. He has been dealing with lower-back issues in recent months and did not participate in the series against Bangladesh but has since returned to action in the 50-over Champions Cup.
However, Shahzad’s absence balances this good news. He sustained a side injury during the second Test against Bangladesh and was initially expected to be fit for the England series after a fracture was ruled out, but he has not yet fully recovered.
Top-order batter Kamran Ghulam and fast bowler Mohammad Ali, who were part of the squad for the Bangladesh series, have been omitted. A PCB release stated that both players remain in the selectors’ plans. However, due to the emphasis on consistency and continuity within the selection policy, and the belief that 15 players are sufficient for a Test, they have been encouraged to continue playing in the Champions One-Day Cup and the President’s Cup, starting October 3, to ensure they stay match-ready through competitive play.
The selected Test squad members have been withdrawn from the Champions Cup playoffs to rest before the England series. The squad will gather in Multan on September 30, with a pre-series training camp starting on October 1.
Pakistan squad for the 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.
