LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming two-Test series against the West Indies, set to take place in Multan from January 17 to 29.
The squad sees seven changes from the 15-member Test team that toured South Africa. Retained players include captain Shan Masood, vice-captain Saud Shakeel, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan, Nauman Ali, and Salman Ali Agha.
To bolster the spin department, off-spinner Sajid Khan and left-arm spinner Nauman Ali have been included, alongside leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed. Openers Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Huraira have been recalled to replace injured Saim Ayub and out-of-form Abdullah Shafique.
As part of workload management, pacers Amir Jamal, Mohammad Abbas, Mir Hamza, and Naseem Shah have been rested. In their place, Khurram Shahzad has been retained, while Mohammad Ali and Kashif Ali have been brought into the squad.
With wicketkeeper-batter Hasibullah unavailable due to injury from the South Africa tour, former Pakistan Under-19 captain and Shaheenz’s captain Rohail Nazir has been added as a replacement.
Pakistan squad for the Test series against West Indies: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper/batter), Nauman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper/batter), Sajid Khan.
The series will feature back-to-back Tests in Multan, with the first match scheduled for January 17-21 and the second from January 25-29.
This marks the West Indies’ first Test tour of Pakistan in 19 years, following their last Test series in Pakistan in 2006. Their most recent visits to Pakistan include ODI series in June 2022 and T20I series in April 2018 and December 2021.
Schedule:
- First Test at Multan Cricket Stadium: January 17-21
- Second Test at Multan Cricket Stadium: January 25-29
