Pakistan announce squad for first Test against England

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 15-player squad for the upcoming first Test of the three-match series against England, scheduled to take place in Multan from October 7-11.

In a significant move, the selected players have been withdrawn from the ongoing Champions One-Day Cup playoffs to ensure they are well-rested and prepared for the upcoming series. The squad will assemble in Multan on September 30, with the training camp commencing on October 1.

Left-arm spinner Noman Ali, who has impressed with 47 wickets in 15 Tests, has replaced fast bowler Khurram Shahzad, who is currently sidelined due to an injury.

While Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali were part of the squad for the recent Bangladesh Tests, the PCB has decided to keep them in the selectors' plans for the England series. However, to maintain match fitness, they have been advised to continue playing in domestic competitions like the Champions One-Day Cup and the President's Cup, which begin on October 3.

Commenting on the squad selection and the decision to withdraw players from the domestic tournament, Pakistan's red-ball head coach, Jason Gillespie, said: “With a busy domestic and international cricket schedule, it makes sense to give our players some much-needed rest ahead of the Test series against England.

“We are very much looking forward to the series against England here in Pakistan and cannot wait for it to begin. We are excited about playing in front of our wonderful supporters,” he added.

Pakistan squad for first Test against England:

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