Normally, omissions for the last two Test matches, Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Sarfaraz Ahmed, are among the names not chosen by Pakistan to face the last two Tests of the home series against England.
A new-look selection committee, formed hours after the hosts suffered an embarrassing loss by an innings and 47 runs to England in the first Test at Multan, made changes to Pakistan's squad. Pakistan are already 0-1 behind in the three-match Test series against England and are also at the bottom of the ongoing World Test Championship standings.
Pakistan Cricket Board, through a statement, said: "Having taken into account the form and fitness of key players going into the present tour and keeping in view the nation's commitments ahead within the 2024-25 international cricket season, the selectors have decided to give Babar, Shaheen, Naseem and Sarfaraz rests.".
Azam hadn't scored a Test half-century since 2022 and saw a dip in form in a year where he was made captain and then quit the post after Pakistan suffered a group-stage exit in this year's T20 World Cup in June. Shaheen, meanwhile, has struggled to find his wicket-taking groove in Tests since returning from a knee injury.
The hardest challenge for the selectors has been picking the squad for the Tests that await against England. Care has been exercised in assessing player current form, compulsion to bounce back in the series, and Pakistan's demanding international schedule for 2024-25.
Given these factors and in the best interest of Pakistan cricket as well as of the players, we have decided to keep Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Shaheen Shah Afridi out of the side".
We are sure that this break from international cricket will help these players regain their fitness, confidence and composure and return well-equipped to face the next challenges.
They remain some of our finest talents with much more to contribute to Pakistan cricket. We are fully committed to supporting them during this period so they can come back even stronger, said Aqib Javed, member of the new selection committee in the statement.
Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed is out of the going games, suffering dengue fever, which made him take hospital treatment after four days of the first Test against Multan. Haseebullah, Mehran Mumtaz, and Kamran Ghulam are replacing a quintet that includes some of Pakistan's fringe players. The other two others named are pace bowler Mohammad Ali and off-spinner Sajid Khan.
Pakistan has added Noman Ali and Zahid Mehmood to its 16-member squad for the second and third Tests, to be played in Multan and Rawalpindi on October 15 and 24 respectively, as the latter two were released from the original first Test squad.
"Apart from Mohammad Ali, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan and Zahid Mehmood, we are giving a chance to uncapped players like Haseebullah, Mehran Mumtaz and Kamran Ghulam. Now they get an opportunity to prove themselves against the mighty side like England. We believe they will come out with flying colours and make the most of this opportunity in the remaining two Tests," added Javed.
In the Test squad, Maaz Sadaqat and Rohail Nazir will make way for Haseebullah and Mehran Mumtaz. This Pakistan Shaheens squad will participate in the Oman ACC Men's T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup scheduled to take place from October 18.
Pakistan side to the second and third Tests: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah (wicket-keeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha and Zahid Mehmood.
