Babar, Shaheen, and Naseem dropped from Pakistan's Squad for Second Test Against England

The Pakistan Cricket Board announces the exclusion of Babar Azam and both leading fast bowlers, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, from the squad for the upcoming Tests against England, citing form and fitness concerns.

Pakistan’s former captain and star batsman, Babar Azam, has been dropped from the Test squad ahead of the second and third matches against England due to a prolonged poor run of form. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Sunday that Babar will not participate, joining pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah on the sidelines.

Selector Aqib Javed, a former fast bowler, stated, “We have decided to rest Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Shaheen Shah Afridi from the Test squad.” This decision was made based on their current form, fitness levels, and with an eye on future cricket tours.

Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, who is recovering from dengue fever, has also been ruled out of selection after missing part of the first Test. In contrast, uncapped players Haseebullah, Mehran Mumtaz, and Kamran Ghulam have been included in the 16-man squad for the second Test in Multan.

Additionally, fast bowler Mohammad Ali and off-spinner Sajid Khan will join the new squad. Babar’s exclusion is particularly surprising to fans, marking the first time he has been omitted from a Test squad since December 2020. His recent performance has been disappointing, with no Test fifties in his last 18 innings and a highest score of just 31 in 2024.

Selectors believe this break will allow the players to rest and regain their confidence, especially Babar, who has previously held the title of the International Cricket Council’s top-ranked batsman in all formats and remains the number one in ODIs.

Since the start of 2023, Babar's form has significantly declined, averaging below 21 in his last nine Tests and accumulating only 126 runs in six innings during Australia’s tour and 64 runs in two home Tests against Bangladesh.

This squad reshuffle comes just days after the PCB restructured its selection panel, bringing in Javed, Azhar Ali, and incumbent Asad Shafiq, along with former elite panel umpire Aleem Dar.

The second Test is set to begin in Multan on Tuesday, with the series concluding in Rawalpindi on October 24.

SQUAD FOR SECOND AND THIRD TESTS:

Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, and Zahid Mehmood.