Image Source: Getty Images
[Saba Sports News] The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the squad for the second and third Tests against England on Sunday, making surprising exclusions, including Babar Azam, who had been reported to miss out earlier.
Notably, Pakistan’s top fast bowlers, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, were also left out of the 16-member squad.
Despite scoring over 500 runs in the first innings, Pakistan suffered a crushing defeat in the opening Test, losing by an innings in Multan—a rare occurrence for any team posting such a high total.
Aqib Javed, a member of the men’s national selection committee, stated that Babar, Shaheen, Naseem, and Sarfaraz Ahmed have been “rested,” but the PCB also cited “current form” as a factor in the selection process.
Javed explained that choosing the squad for the upcoming Tests against England was challenging, with selectors considering player form, the need to bounce back in the series, and Pakistan’s packed international schedule for 2024-25.
“We believe this break will allow these players to regain their fitness, confidence, and composure for future challenges,” he said, adding that they remain key talents for Pakistan cricket.
Babar’s last 50+ score in Tests came in December 2022, and his recent performance has been underwhelming, with his highest score being 41 in the past nine matches. Pakistan recently suffered a 0-2 series loss to Bangladesh at home, where Babar’s scores were 0, 22, 31, and 11.
Shaheen and Naseem, meanwhile, have struggled on Pakistan’s flat pitches, which have drawn criticism for offering minimal support to bowlers. In the Multan Test, Pakistan posted 556, only for England to surpass them with a massive 823/7 declared.