Saeed Anwar Encourages Babar Azam After Test Squad Omission
In Islamabad, former Pakistan cricket star Saeed Anwar shared a heartfelt message with Babar Azam, offering support after Babar was left out of the Test squad against England. Anwar, known for his successful cricket career, empathized with Babar’s situation and expressed confidence in his ability to overcome this challenge. Anwar posted on social media, “This too shall pass, Stay strong Babar Azam Beta. This has been happening in anybody’s career, you will bounce back INSHAHALLAH.”
Babar Azam, a key player for Pakistan, faced a tough decision as selectors chose to exclude him from the upcoming Tests. Anwar’s message highlighted the temporary nature of setbacks and his belief in Babar’s resilience.
Changes in Pakistan’s Test Squad
The newly-formed selection committee made several changes to the Pakistan squad for the second and third Tests against England. Despite scoring over 550 runs in the first innings, Pakistan suffered a heavy defeat in the first Test. As a result, Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Sarfaraz Ahmed were rested. New players like Haseebullah, Mehran Mumtaz, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Ali, and Sajid Khan were included.
Aqib Javed, a selection committee member, explained that the decision was made to help these players regain fitness and confidence. He emphasized their importance to Pakistan cricket and the support they will receive during this period.
England’s Historic Win
In the first Test, England achieved a historic win, becoming the first team to take a first innings lead of over 200 runs after conceding over 550. Pakistan, in contrast, became the first team to lose by an innings after scoring over 500 runs. England’s victory moved them to fourth in the World Test Championship standings, while Pakistan fell to last place.
Pakistan Squad for Upcoming Tests
The squad for the second and third Tests includes Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah (wicket-keeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, and Zahid Mehmood.
Doubts Revealed
Saeed Anwar -: Saeed Anwar is a former Pakistani cricketer who was known for his excellent batting skills. He played for the Pakistan national team and is remembered for his high scores in cricket matches.
Babar Azam -: Babar Azam is a current Pakistani cricketer and one of the top batsmen in the world. He is known for his stylish batting and is often compared to other great players like Virat Kohli.
Test squad -: A Test squad is a group of cricket players selected to represent their country in Test matches. Test matches are the longest form of cricket, lasting up to five days.
England -: England is a country in Europe and has a strong cricket team. They are one of the oldest cricket-playing nations and have a rich history in the sport.
Naseem Shah -: Naseem Shah is a young and talented fast bowler from Pakistan. He is known for his speed and ability to take wickets.
Shaheen Shah Afridi -: Shaheen Shah Afridi is a Pakistani cricketer known for his fast bowling. He is one of the key players in the Pakistan cricket team.
World Test Championship -: The World Test Championship is a tournament organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to determine the best Test cricket team in the world. Teams earn points based on their performance in Test matches.
