Faisalabad. Pakistan cricket selectors have recalled star fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi for the first Test against England to be held in Multan from October 7-11. The selectors announced a 15-player squad on Tuesday, which includes left-arm spinner Noman Ali in place of injured Khurram Shahzad. Afridi was dropped from the team after the first Test against Bangladesh. The left-arm pacer was considered one of the reasons for Pakistan’s defeat in the opening Test, as the four fast bowlers selected failed to make an impact. The Pakistan Cricket Board said in a release on Tuesday, “Following the announcement of the squad and based on the recommendation of head coach Jason Gillespie, the selected players have been dropped from the Champions One-Day Cup playoffs so that they can get some rest before the series. The team will assemble in Multan on September 30 and the training camp will begin from October 1. Left-arm spinner Noman Ali, who has taken 47 wickets in 15 Tests, has replaced injured pacer Khurram Shahzad. Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali, who were part of the squad for the Bangladesh Tests, are firmly in the selectors’ plans, the release said.
However, due to the emphasis on continuity in the selection policy and the belief that 15 players are sufficient for a Test, they have been advised and encouraged to continue to represent their teams in the Champions One-Day Cup and Presidents Cup starting on 3 October, so that they can remain match-ready through competitive cricket. ” Pakistan men’s red-ball team head coach Jason Gillespie said that they are eagerly looking forward to the series against England. Former Australia fast bowler Gillespie said, due to the busy schedule of domestic and international cricket, it is prudent to give our players some much-needed rest before the Test series against England. We are eagerly looking forward to the series against England in Pakistan and can’t wait for it to start. We are excited to play in front of our wonderful supporters.
Pakistan squad for the first Test:
Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper) and Shaheen Shah Afridi.