Pakistan will play the first Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from November 9 to 13, followed by the second at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from November 17 to 21.

LAHORE: Pakistan have dropped former Test captain Shan Masood as selectors turn to young players and domestic performers for the upcoming two-match ICC World Test Championship series against Sri Lanka, with Babar Azam retaining the captaincy of a revamped 14-member squad announced on Saturday.

Three batters — Mohammad Taha, Mohammad Suleman and Sameer Minhas — have received their maiden Test call-ups. Ali Usman and Salman Ali Agha have also been included for the series, scheduled to take place in Rawalpindi and Lahore from November 9 to 21.

Shan’s omission marks a significant change to Pakistan’s top order as selectors seek to improve the team’s red-ball performances during the current WTC cycle.

The left-handed opener scored 109 against the West Indies in the first Test in Trinidad in July before missing the second match because of a finger injury.

During Pakistan’s three-Test series against England, Shan recorded scores of 29 and five at Leeds, 26 and one at Lord’s, and 95 and five at Edgbaston. He finished the series with 161 runs from six innings.

Overall, Shan has scored 2,926 runs in 50 Tests at an average of 30.80, including seven centuries and 15 half-centuries.

Domestic Performances Earn New Players Test Call-Ups

The selectors have placed greater emphasis on domestic performances, with the three new batting selections having impressed in the ongoing President’s Trophy Grade-I competition.

Mohammad Taha, 26, has been the tournament’s leading run-scorer, accumulating 730 runs in seven matches since September. His tally includes three centuries and a highest score of 225.

Mohammad Suleman has scored 652 runs in seven matches, including three centuries, placing him fifth on the competition’s batting charts.

Sameer Minhas, who is playing his first first-class season, has accumulated 405 runs in seven matches after previously impressing for Pakistan’s Under-19 side.

Babar will lead a squad that includes Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, wicketkeepers Mohammad Ghazi Ghori and Saad Baig, Razaullah, Salman Ali Agha and Saud Shakeel, alongside the three new batting selections.

Experienced fast bowler Mohammad Abbas is included, while left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas and Ali Usman provide spin options. Salman Ali Agha adds batting depth and an all-round option.

Patron’s XI to Face Sri Lanka in Warm-Up Match

Wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig will captain a 13-member Pakistan Cricket Board Patron’s XI in a three-day warm-up match against Sri Lanka at Islamabad Club from November 4 to 6.

Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Taha and Sameer Minhas will also feature in the fixture.

The Patron’s XI pace attack will comprise Mohammad Salman, Shoaib Akhtar Jnr, Ali Shabbir, Saqib Khan and Ubaid Shah. Batter Mohammad Tayyab Arif completes the squad.

Two fast bowlers will be added to Pakistan’s Test squad after the warm-up match concludes on November 6, allowing selectors to assess the available pace options before the series begins.

Several Established Players Miss Out

Other notable omissions from the initial Test squad include Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan.

Aamir Jamal, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali and Sajid Khan have also been left out. The PCB announcement did not specify individual reasons for their exclusions.

Pakistan will play the first Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from November 9 to 13, followed by the second at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from November 17 to 21.

The series will give Pakistan an opportunity to improve their position in the World Test Championship standings while assessing a younger group of players against Sri Lanka.

Pakistan Test Squad

Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Taha, Razaullah, Saad Baig (wicketkeeper), Salman Ali Agha, Sameer Minhas and Saud Shakeel.