Pakistan Names Squad for First Test Against England in Multan
Pakistan has announced their 15-member squad for the first Test against England, set to be played in Multan from October 7. The team includes 37-year-old spinner Noman Ali, who replaces the injured pacer Khurram Shahzad.
Noman Ali has played 15 Test matches for Pakistan, taking 47 wickets at an average of 33.53. In his last Test match against Sri Lanka in Colombo, he achieved a career-best haul of 7 for 70.
Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali, who were part of the squad for the Bangladesh Tests, have been excluded for the first Test but remain in future plans. Head coach Jason Gillespie stated, “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.” He added, “We are very much looking forward to the series against England here in Pakistan and cannot wait for it to begin. We are excited about playing in front of our wonderful supporters.”
All-rounder Aamer Jamal, who missed the Bangladesh Tests due to injury, is now fit to play the first Test. Pakistan, currently eighth in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 standings, is under pressure heading into the first Test against England, with their last home Test win dating back to February 2021.
Pakistan Squad for 1st Test:
- Shan Masood (c)
- Saud Shakeel (vc)
- Aamir Jamal
- Abdullah Shafique
- Abrar Ahmed
- Babar Azam
- Mir Hamza
- Mohammad Huraira
- Mohammad Rizwan
- Naseem Shah
- Noman Ali
- Saim Ayub
- Salman Ali Agha
- Sarfaraz Ahmed
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
Doubts Revealed
Multan -: Multan is a city in Pakistan. It is known for its rich history and cultural heritage.
Test -: A Test match is a type of cricket game that lasts up to five days. It is the longest form of cricket.
spinner -: A spinner is a type of bowler in cricket who makes the ball spin when it bounces, making it hard for the batsman to hit.
pacer -: A pacer is a type of bowler in cricket who bowls the ball very fast.
head coach -: A head coach is the main person responsible for training and guiding a sports team.
Jason Gillespie -: Jason Gillespie is a former Australian cricketer and now a coach. He was a fast bowler during his playing days.
all-rounder -: An all-rounder is a cricket player who is good at both batting and bowling.
Bangladesh Tests -: Bangladesh Tests refer to Test cricket matches played against the Bangladesh cricket team.
Shan Masood -: Shan Masood is a Pakistani cricketer and the captain of the Pakistan Test team.
home Test win drought -: A home Test win drought means that the team has not won a Test match in their own country for a long time.