Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam has been dropped from the national Test squad ahead of the second match against England. Sources confirm that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also released fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, following the team’s crushing defeat in the first Test.
Insiders suggest Babar Azam’s exclusion is due to his prolonged slump in form, with the batter failing to score a half-century in his last 18 Test innings. Similarly, Sarfaraz Ahmed, who had been released earlier, will not feature in the 16-member squad for the upcoming Test. The PCB selection committee reportedly completed discussions with the captain and head coach regarding the upcoming match.
Amid Pakistan’s continued poor performance in Test cricket, growing speculation surrounds the future of current captain Shan Masood. With the team enduring six consecutive Test defeats under his leadership, including several humiliating losses, the PCB is considering a change in leadership.
Media reports suggest potential candidates to replace Masood include Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, and Salman Ali Agha, as the board deliberates on the captaincy transition.
Meanwhile, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, and Mubasir Khan have been named in the squad for the second Test. The final squad announcement will be made after consultations with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, sources reveal.
