ISLAMABAD, September 25, 2024 — The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 15-player squad for the upcoming first Test against England, set to take place in Multan from October 7-11, 2024.
The highly anticipated series marks England’s return to Pakistan for a Test series, and the PCB has selected a balanced squad, aiming for a strong performance in front of home crowds.
Following recommendations from Pakistan’s head coach, Jason Gillespie, the selected players have been withdrawn from the ongoing Champions One-Day Cup playoffs to ensure they get sufficient rest before the Test series. The squad will assemble in Multan on Monday, September 30, with a training camp scheduled to begin on October 1 to help the team prepare for the crucial series.
The squad for the first Test includes a mix of experienced players and promising talent:
Pakistan Test Squad for 1st Test Against England:
• Shan Masood (captain)
• Saud Shakeel (vice-captain)
• Aamir Jamal
• Abdullah Shafique
• Abrar Ahmed
• Babar Azam
• Mir Hamza
• Mohammad Huraira
• Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper)
• Naseem Shah
• Noman Ali
• Saim Ayub
• Salman Ali Agha
• Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper)
• Shaheen Shah Afridi
One notable change in the squad is the inclusion of left-arm spinner Noman Ali, who has taken 47 wickets in 15 Tests, replacing injured fast bowler Khurram Shahzad. Noman Ali’s inclusion strengthens Pakistan’s spin options, which may prove crucial given the spin-friendly conditions in Multan.
Meanwhile, Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali, who were part of the squad for the Bangladesh Test series, remain in the selectors’ plans but have not been included in the 15-player squad. To maintain their match fitness, they have been advised to continue playing in the domestic Champions One-Day Cup and the President’s Cup, which begins on October 3.
Head coach Jason Gillespie expressed his satisfaction with the squad selection, stating, “With a busy domestic and international cricket schedule, it makes sense to give our players some much-needed rest ahead of the Test series against England. We are looking forward to a competitive series and playing in front of our passionate supporters.”
Gillespie also emphasized the importance of the series, with England’s tour being highly anticipated by Pakistani cricket fans. The series presents a significant opportunity for Pakistan to test themselves against one of the world’s top Test teams on home soil. The Multan Test is the first in a three-match series that promises to deliver exciting cricket.
The Pakistan squad is set to focus on fine-tuning their preparations during the training camp, with the team eager to build on recent successes and deliver a strong performance against England.
