The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially unveiled a 16-member Test squad for the highly anticipated upcoming tours of the West Indies and England, with modern-day great Babar Azam reinstated as the red-ball captain.
The newly announced squad features a balanced mix of seasoned campaigners and emerging talents. Joining Babar in the batting lineup are former captain Shan Masood, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, and Salman Ali Agha, alongside fresh faces like Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal. The bowling attack is bolstered by the return of veteran pacer Mohammad Abbas, alongside Aamir Jamal, Khurram Shahzad, and young prodigy Ubaid Shah. Meanwhile, the spin department will be managed by Sajid Khan and Ali Usman. A notable omission from the roster is key middle-order batter Saud Shakeel, who has been sidelined due to lingering fitness issues.
Pakistan will commence their international campaign in the Caribbean. The tour will officially kick off with a crucial warm-up match on July 18 in Tarouba, setting the stage for the first Test scheduled at the same venue from July 25 to 29.
Shedding light on the major leadership shake-up, PCB Director of High Performance Aaqib Javed emphasized that a captain is ultimately accountable for the team’s outcomes. “While Shan Masood’s personal performances were commendable, the team’s overall results under his captaincy were simply not matching our expectations,” Javed explained. He further noted that the selection committee—which recently added Misbah-ul-Haq and Sarfaraz Ahmed to its ranks—made this change to steer the team back to winning ways, while also expressing serious concern over the declining pace of Pakistan’s fast bowlers.
Former captain Misbah-ul-Haq also weighed in on the decision, stressing the importance of stability. “Consistency in cricket is paramount for achieving success. It is essential to constantly evaluate whether there is a sustained level of performance, both as a player and as a captain,” Misbah stated.
