Pakistan unveils squad for the first Test against England; Noman Ali returns

Sep 25, 2024

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Pakistan unveils squad for the first Test against England; Noman Ali returns

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Pakistan have announced a formidable 15-member squad for the upcoming first Test against England, which will be held at the Multan Cricket Stadium starting on Monday, October 7. Shan Masood will continue to captain the side as Pakistan looks to bounce back after a 2-0 series loss to Bangladesh.

Noman Ali returns to the Test squad

Left-arm spinner Noman Ali, who has 47 wickets in 15 Test matches, has been recalled to the squad. He last played a Test earlier in the year but was sidelined for the Bangladesh series. His return comes after fast bowler Khurram Shahzad was ruled out due to stiffness in his left side, sustained during the second Test against Bangladesh.

Noman’s experience and skill as a spinner will be crucial for Pakistan, especially in home conditions. He also has a Test top score of 97, showcasing his potential as a lower-order batter.

Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali omitted

Top-order batter Kamran Ghulam, who recently scored two hundreds in the Pakistan Champions One Day Cup, and fast bowler Mohammad Ali have both been left out of the squad. Pakistan’s selection policy, emphasizing consistency and continuity, was the primary reason behind their exclusion. According to the team management, the 15-member squad is sufficient for the Test match.

Both players will continue their participation in the domestic circuit, competing in the President’s Cup, which begins on October 3.

Also READ: PCB chief reveals venues for the Test series between Pakistan and England

Jason Gillespie on resting the key players

Pakistan men’s red-ball head coach, Jason Gillespie, highlighted the importance of resting some key players ahead of the crucial Test series against England. He emphasized that the packed domestic and international cricket calendar required careful management of the players’ workload.

“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 and excited about playing in front of our wonderful supporters,” Gillespie said in a statement.

Pakistan squad for the first Test against England

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Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), and Shaheen Shah Afridi

Pakistan are expected to assemble in Multan on September 30, with training scheduled to begin on October 1. The first Test is set to be a highly anticipated contest as Pakistan prepares to face a strong England side.