Shan Masood, the former Test captain, is not part of the Pakistan Test squad for the two-match series against Sri Lanka. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named the 14-player group on Saturday. Babar Azam keeps the captaincy, and the selectors have brought in younger cricketers and players who have performed well in domestic cricket. The matches are set for Rawalpindi and Lahore, running from November 9 to 21.
The choice marks a notable shift at the top of the batting order. Pakistan have struggled in the current ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, the multi-year league that ranks Test sides, and the selectors are now looking at fresh faces and red-ball (Test and first-class) form. Several other established players were also left out.
Why the selectors went younger
Shan, a left-handed opener, made 109 against West Indies in the first Test at Trinidad in July, but then missed the second match with a finger injury. Against England he made 29 and 5 at Leeds, 26 and 1 at Lord's, and 95 and 5 at Edgbaston, so six innings produced 161 runs across the series. Over his career he has 2,926 runs from 50 Tests, an average of 30.80, with seven centuries and 15 half-centuries.
Domestic form earns call-ups
Mohammad Taha, 26, leads the run charts in the ongoing President's Trophy Grade-I tournament, with 730 runs from seven games since September. His tally includes three centuries and a best of 225. Mohammad Suleman has 652 runs from seven games, including three centuries, and sits fifth in the batting charts. Sameer Minhas is in his first first-class season and has 405 runs from seven games after representing Pakistan's Under-19 side.
All three are receiving their first Test call-ups. Their selection shows how much weight the Pakistan Test squad is now placing on performances in domestic competition.
Squad, warm-up and next steps
The squad keeps Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, wicketkeepers Saad Baig and Mohammad Ghazi Ghori, Razaullah and Saud Shakeel, all of whom retain their places. Ali Usman and Salman Ali Agha are also included. Abbas is an experienced fast bowler, Arafat is a left-arm spinner, and Salman adds batting depth as an all-round option.
Before the Tests, Saad Baig will captain the 13-player PCB Patron's XI against Sri Lanka in a three-day tune-up at Islamabad Club from November 4 to 6. Fazal and Ali Usman also feature in that side, along with Taha, Suleman and Sameer. Two more pace bowlers will be named to the Test squad once the warm-up ends on November 6.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan ne Sri Lanka ke khilaf do Test matches ke liye 14 khilaariyon ki squad ka elaan kiya hai. Shan Masood ko is squad mein shamil nahi kiya gaya, aur Babar Azam captain rahenge. Taha, Suleman aur Sameer ko pehli baar Test call-up mila hai, jo gharelu cricket mein acha khel dikhane ka nateeja hai. Matches Rawalpindi aur Lahore mein 9 se 21 November tak honge, is liye cricket shaukeen in par nazar rakhen.
