Babar Azam has officially been named the captain of the Pakistan Test squads for the upcoming tours of West Indies and England. This announcement was made by the Pakistan Men’s National Selection Committee during a press conference held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The selection committee has confirmed a 16-member squad for the two-match Test series against the West Indies, which is scheduled to take place from July 25 to August 6. Following this, Pakistan will engage in a three-match Test series in England from August 19 to September 13.
Squad Details for West Indies and England Series
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released the squad lineups for both series. The West Indies squad consists of 16 players, while the England squad has 17 players. Notably, the England squad includes players who will be subject to fitness assessments before the matches.
Uncapped Players in the Test Squads
Among the selected players, several uncapped individuals have been included, showcasing the PCB’s commitment to nurturing new talent. The uncapped players are:
- Ali Usman
- Muhammad Awais Zafar
- Ubaid Shah
- Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicket-keeper)
Previous Leadership Concerns
Prior to this announcement, there were discussions within the PCB regarding the leadership of the Test team. Some key decision-makers expressed reservations about reinstating Babar Azam as captain, especially after his performance in the T20 World Cup where he was moved down the batting order due to slow scoring. However, Azam’s return to form in April, where he scored a remarkable century in the Pakistan Super League, has likely influenced this decision.
Full Squad Lists
The full squad for the West Indies series is as follows:
- Babar Azam (captain)
- Aamir Jamal
- Abdullah Fazal
- Ali Usman
- Azan Awais
- Imam ul Haq
- Khurram Shahzad
- Mohammad Abbas
- Mohammad Ali
- Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper)
- Muhammad Awais Zafar
- Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicket-keeper)
- Sajid Khan
- Salman Ali Agha
- Shan Masood
- Ubaid Shah
The squad for the England series includes:
- Babar Azam (captain)
- Aamir Jamal
- Abdullah Fazal
- Ali Usman
- Azan Awais
- Imam ul Haq
- Khurram Shahzad
- Mohammad Abbas
- Mohammad Ali
- Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper)
- Muhammad Awais Zafar
- Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicket-keeper)
- Sajid Khan
- Salman Ali Agha
- Saud Shakeel (subject to fitness)
- Shan Masood
- Ubaid Shah
Babar Azam’s leadership will be pivotal as Pakistan aims to perform strongly in both series. The inclusion of new players indicates a strategic move by the PCB to blend experience with fresh talent, which could prove beneficial for the team’s future.
