Islamabad: Pakistan has announced its 15-member squad for the inaugural Test against England, scheduled to commence in Multan on October 7. Notably, the 37-year-old spinner Noman Ali has been selected to replace the injured pacer Khurram Shahzad in this crucial match.
The Pakistan team has opted for Noman Ali, a seasoned player with 15 Test matches under his belt, to lead the bowling attack in the first Test of the three-match series. His impressive record includes 47 wickets at an average of 33.53, with a standout performance of 7 for 70 in his last Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, as recognized by the ICC.
While Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali, who were part of the squad for the Bangladesh Tests held in Pakistan, which ended in a 2-0 defeat for Pakistan, have been omitted from the initial Test lineup, their futures remain intact.
"Given the demanding domestic and international cricket calendar, it is prudent to provide our players with the necessary rest before the Test series against England," stated head coach Jason Gillespie, as reported by the ICC.
"We are eagerly anticipating the series against England in Pakistan and are excited about the opportunity to play in front of our devoted supporters," he added.
Aamer Jamal, who was unable to participate in the Bangladesh Tests due to an injury, has been cleared to play in the first Test. Initially, Jamal was not included in the Test series against Bangladesh but was subsequently named for the second Test, although he did not make it to the final playing XI.
Following their series defeat to Bangladesh, Pakistan currently stands at eighth position in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 rankings.
The team led by Shan Masood is facing significant pressure as they prepare to play the first Test against England. Their last victory in a home Test match was back in February 2021, and they have not won a match at home in the last decade, including a 3-0 series loss to England in 2022.
The Pakistan squad for the inaugural Test match: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
