Big Changes for Pakistan Ahead of Second Test Against England in Multan
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| Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Sarfaraz Ahmed dropped for the second Test against England in Multan. / Getty |
The most notable exclusion is former captain and star batter Babar Azam, who has been dropped following an extended period of poor form. This decision comes after the team’s newly-formed selection committee, led by Aqib Javed, conducted a detailed review of the squad.
Babar’s omission headlines a number of changes aimed at reshaping the team for the remainder of the series. In addition to Babar, pace spearheads Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi, along with veteran wicket-keeper Sarfaraz Ahmed, will miss the second Test. Abrar Ahmed, who was taken ill during the first Test and later hospitalized, is also unavailable.
Replacing them are fresh faces, including Haseebullah, Mehran Mumtaz, Kamran Ghulam, fast bowler Mohammad Ali, and off-spinner Sajid Khan, all of whom have been brought into the squad. Shan Masood will continue as captain, with Saud Shakeel serving as his deputy.
Selection Committee’s Perspective
New committee made changes after Pakistan's innings defeat in the first Test. / Getty
Aqib Javed, a member of the new selection committee, explained the rationale behind the high-profile changes: “Selecting the squad for the upcoming Tests against England has been a challenging task. We’ve had to carefully consider current player form, the urgency to bounce back in the series, and Pakistan’s demanding 2024-25 international schedule. With these factors in mind, we’ve made the decision to rest Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.”
He added that this break would allow these key players to regain their fitness and confidence. "They remain some of our finest talents with much more to contribute to Pakistan cricket. We are fully committed to supporting them during this period so they can come back even stronger.”
Babar Azam’s dip in form has been a growing concern for Pakistan. He managed just 30 and 5 in the first Test, bringing his average in his last 17 Test innings to 20.70. On home soil, Babar's average over his last eight innings is 18.75. His last half-century in Test cricket was in December 2022, marking a steep decline for one of Pakistan's most celebrated batters.
First Test Recap and Record-Breaking Loss
England’s victory in the first Test was a historic one. After conceding 550 runs in Pakistan's first innings, England became the first team in history to take a first-innings lead of over 200 runs in such circumstances. Their colossal 823/7 declared — the highest Test score of the 21st century — handed Pakistan an innings defeat despite their mammoth first-innings total. It marked the first time a team had lost by an innings after scoring over 500 runs in their first innings.
This defeat plunged Pakistan to last place in the World Test Championship standings, with a points percentage of just 16.67%. England, on the other hand, climbed to fourth place, keeping their hopes alive for a spot in the World Test Championship final.
Pakistan Squad for 2nd and 3rd Tests
Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, and Zahid Mehmood.
The second Test against England will begin on Tuesday in Multan, with Pakistan hoping to bounce back and restore some pride after their crushing defeat in the first match.