The Pakistan Cricket Board said in a press release on Sunday that former captains Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed, ace pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, spinner Abrar Ahmed, who was suffering from dengue fever, were resting for the Green Shirts’ remaining two games of the three-match series Test against England.
The Green Team’s poor record in Test matches continued on Friday when they were defeated by the visitors in Multan by an innings and 47 runs.
Multan and Rawalpindi will host the remaining two games.
The Green Team has lost its previous six Test matches, their last victory coming in July 2023 against Sri Lanka.
Babar Azam, who has skippered all formats in the past, hasn’t hit 50 runs in a Test inning since December 2022, when he scored 161 against the Kiwis.
Babar has only reached the 40-run mark once since his rough patch, when he scored 41 against the Australians in a Boxing Day Test last year.
Shaheen, who made his Test debut against New Zealand in December 2018 in Abu Dhabi, gradually rose to become Pakistan’s primary paceman in all formats. However, physical fitness (knee) issues have affected the player’s form over the past few years.
Shaheen has played 10 Test matches since 2022, taking 30 wickets at an average of 39.33, with 4-58 being his best performance.
The players were rested because of “the current form and fitness of key players, looking ahead to Pakistan’s future assignments,” as stated in today’s press release from the PCB.
Uncapped wicketkeeper Haseebullah, spinner Mehran Mumtaz, and off-spinner Kamran Ghulam have taken their places. Experienced fast bowler Mohammad Ali and off-spinner Sajid Khan have also been added.
Spinner Noman Ali and wrist spinner Zahid Mehmood — who were at first piece of the main Test crew yet were hence delivered — have additionally been remembered for the 16-player crew, PCB said.
Public determination panel part Aqib Javed — as per the official statement — said that choosing the crew was trying for the selectors as they needed to “consider current player structure, the desperation to return in the series and Pakistan’s requesting 2024-25 worldwide timetable.”
“We are certain that this break from worldwide cricket will assist these players with recovering their wellness, certainty and levelheadedness, guaranteeing they return in top shape for future difficulties,” Javed was cited in the public statement as saying.
“We are completely dedicated to supporting them during this period so they can return much more grounded,” Javed said.
Talking on the new participants, Javed said that the players currently got the opportunity to exhibit their abilities against a considerable Britain side.
“We accept they will adapt to the situation and capitalize on this open door in the leftover two Tests,” he said.
