Pakistan has announced their 15-player squad for the opening Test against England, scheduled to take place in Multan starting on October 7. The lineup includes a mix of experienced players and promising newcomers, reflecting Pakistan’s strategic approach for the highly anticipated series. With preparations in full swing, the team looks to make a strong start on home soil against a formidable England side. The selection also highlights a balance between seasoned Test cricketers and emerging talent aiming to perform under pressure.
Pakistan Announced Squad For First Test Against England:
Pakistan has added left-arm spinner Noman Ali to their squad for the opening match of the ICC World Test Championship series against England, set to begin next month. Ali, known for his impressive performance, took a career-best 7 for 70 in his last Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
While Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali, who were part of the squad for the Bangladesh Tests, haven’t been selected for this match, they are still considered valuable options for future series as per the team’s long-term strategy.
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.”
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Aamer Jamal, who was sidelined for the Bangladesh Tests due to injury, has recovered and is set to participate in the first Test against England. Although he was initially excluded from the series against Bangladesh, he was named in the squad for the second Test, where he ultimately did not make the final playing XI.
Pakistan’s Squad For First Test Against England:
Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), 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
Following their series defeat against Bangladesh at home, Pakistan currently sits in eighth place in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 standings. This setback has impacted their position, highlighting the need for improvement as they prepare for their upcoming matches in the competition. The team aims to regain momentum in future series to enhance their standing.
Under the leadership of Shan Masood, Pakistan faces significant pressure as they approaches the first Test against England. Their last home victory in this format dates back to February 2021, and they have failed to win any of their last 10 home Test matches, which includes a 3-0 series defeat to England in 2022.
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