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MULTAN: Pakistan announced the playing XI for the second home Test against England scheduled to start on Tuesday at Multan Cricket Stadium, where the Shan-led side faced a low-ebb defeat by innings and 47 runs.
In a major change, the national team’s selection committee dropped star-batter Babar Azam after the streak of failed performances. Kamran Ghulam received a maiden Test call replacing Babar Azam after years of domestic performances.
The newly appointed sectional panel named three specialist spinners — Left-arm spinner Noman Ali, legspinner Zahid Mahmood, and offspinner Sajid Khan — in Pakistan’s starting XI alongside only seam bowling allrounder Aamer Jamal.
The announcement comes a day after the PCB unveiled a 16-member squad wherein Babar, Shaheen, and Naseem were “rested” along with wicketkeeper-batter Sarfaraz Ahmed who was also released from the squad for fitness or form reasons, whereas, Abrar Ahmad was released due to ill-health.
Defending its decision to drop senior players, Aqib Javed, a member of the men’s national selection committee, said that we have decided in the best interest of Pakistan cricket as well as the players.
PCB spokesperson said that the move was aimed at allowing the cricketers to have some rest so that they can come back afresh.
The second Test is set to be played at the Multan Cricket Stadium, whereas the third and last match of the series will commence at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 24. The three-match series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25.
Pakistan Playing XI: Shan Masood (c), Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mehmood
England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith, Brydon Carse, Matt Potts, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir
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