Major changes expected as Pakistan set to announce squad for England Test series this week

The much-anticipated squad announcement of the Pakistan cricket team for the upcoming Test series against England is set to take place this week. While Shan Masood is likely to retain his captaincy, the team is expected to undergo some changes following their recent series against Bangladesh.

The Pakistani squad will convene in Multan on October 2, coinciding with the arrival of the English team. While the visitors will have a rest day on October 3, the Pakistanis will hit the ground running with their first training session.

Sources suggest that three to four players could be dropped from the team that faced Bangladesh. Head coach Jason Gillespie, who recently concluded a connection camp in Lahore, is now in Faisalabad to oversee the selection process. Selection committee members Mohammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq are also on the ground, evaluating the performances of national players in the ongoing Champions Cup.

After consulting with the captain and head coach, the selection committee will finalize a list of potential players. The Champions Cup final on Sunday will serve as a crucial factor in their decision-making. Once approved by the PCB chairman, the national squad will be officially announced.

The first Test between Pakistan and England is scheduled for October 7, followed by the second Test in Multan on October 15. The series will conclude with the third Test on October 24 in Rawalpindi.

On September 17th, the ECB announced a 17-member squad for the upcoming longer-format series, which is part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle for 2023-25.

England squad for Pakistan Test series: Ben Stokes (C), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.