Shock Cuts: Shan Masood, Shafique Out as Pakistan Revamp Squad for Sri Lanka
Pakistan announces a revamped Test squad for the Sri Lanka series, dropping Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique while handing debuts to three young batters.
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the cricketing community, Pakistan has announced a revamped 14-member Test squad for the upcoming home series against Sri Lanka. The selection committee has taken a bold gamble, dropping former captain Shan Masood and key batter Abdullah Shafique, while handing maiden call-ups to three promising young talents who have dominated the domestic circuit.
New Faces, New Hope
The selection panel has placed its faith in the youth, rewarding consistent performances in the first-class season. Three batters have earned their first-ever Test call-ups:
- Mohammad Taha: The 26-year-old left-hander has been in blistering form, emerging as the leading run-scorer in the President’s Trophy Grade-I with a massive 730 runs in seven matches.
- Mohammad Suleman: Following closely behind, Suleman has secured his spot by ranking as the fifth-highest run-getter in the same tournament, amassing 652 runs.
- Sameer Minhas: In a remarkable feat, Sameer has been picked in his very first first-class season after scoring 405 runs across seven matches.
Major Omissions and Tactical Shifts
The most talking point of the announcement is the absence of Shan Masood, who served as the Test skipper until recently. Joining him in the exit list is Abdullah Shafique. While Shafique had a brilliant outing in the West Indies with an unbeaten 160 in Port of Spain, his subsequent struggle in England—where he managed only 84 runs in six innings—seems to have cost him his place.
The bowling department has also seen a shake-up. The spin duo of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali have been dropped, with left-arm spinner Ali Usman being included in the squad. Furthermore, the selectors have indicated that two additional pacers from the Pakistan Patrons side will be added to the senior squad before the series commences.
The Road to Recovery in WTC
Babar Azam will lead the side in a series that carries significant weight for the ICC World Test Championship 2025/27. Currently, Pakistan finds itself in a precarious position at the bottom of the standings, while Sri Lanka holds the seventh spot. A series win is crucial for Pakistan to climb the ladder.
Retaining their spots in the squad are Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Salman Agha, Saud Shakeel, Razaullah, and wicketkeepers Mohammad Ghazi Ghori and Saad Baig.
Pakistan's Initial Test Squad:
- Babar Azam (Captain)
- Abdullah Fazal
- Ali Usman
- Arafat Minhas
- Azan Awais
- Mohammad Abbas
- Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (wk)
- Mohammad Suleman
- Mohammad Taha
- Razaullah
- Saad Baig (wk)
- Salman Ali Agha
- Sameer Minhas
- Saud Shakeel
Series Schedule:
- First Test: 9-13 November at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi.
- Second Test: 17-21 November at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.