New Delhi: Pakistan have named four changes from their playing XI for the second Test match against England in Multan, scheduled to be played from October 15 to 19. The changes were expected a day after the Pakistan selection committee rested star batter Babar Azam and frontline fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah for the remaining part of the three-Test series.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-based all-rounder Kamran Ghulam will replace Babar Azam in the middle order. The 29-year-old boasts of 4377 runs at an average of 49.17 in 98 first-class innings besides claiming 28 dismissals with his left-arm orthodox action.
Unsurprisingly, Pakistan has fielded three frontline spinners in Sajid Khan, Noman Ali and Zahid Mahmood. All three of them to play their first match in this series. The move comes after reports suggested that Pakistan think tank has instructed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief curator Tony Hemming to prepare a spin-friendly pitch, the same pitch which was used for the first Test, wherein Pakistan lost by an innings and 47 runs.
Young spinner Abrar Ahmed wasn’t available for selection after he was hospitalised on the fourth day of the first Test. It was reported that the 26-year-old suffered from dengue fever. All-rounder Aamer Jamal will be the lone pace option available for Pakistan captain Shan Masood in the second Test.
Pakistan XI for second Test: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (c), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Zahid Mahmood
Why Pakistan dropped star players from squad for 2nd and 3rd Test
The recent changes in the 16-member squad came on the back of the newly-appointed selection committee comprising of former players Azhar Ali and Aaqib Javed and former umpire Aleem Dar. Aaqib Javed, who played 22 Test matches for Pakistan from 1989 to 1998, said the players were given rest considering Pakistan’s long season for the remaining part of the year.
“Selecting the squad for the upcoming Tests against England has been a challenging task for the selectors. We’ve had to carefully consider current player form, the urgency to bounce back in the series and Pakistan’s demanding 2024-25 international schedule. With these factors in mind and in the best interest of Pakistan cricket as well as the players, we’ve made the decision to rest Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Shaheen Shah Afridi,” Aaqib was quoted as saying in a PCB media release.
“We are confident that this break from international cricket will help these players regain their fitness, confidence and composure, ensuring they return in top shape for future 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,” the former Pakistan player added.
Pakistan have named four changes from their playing XI for the second Test match against England in Multan, scheduled to be played from October 15 to 19. The changes were expected a day after the Pakistan selection committee rested star batter Babar Azam and frontline fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah for the remaining part of the three-Test series. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
