Babar Azam axed: Pakistan bring in new blood with focus on spin for remainder of England Tests

The Pakistan cricket selectors have made some bold decisions for the remaining two Test matches against England, scheduled to be played in Multan on October 15 and Rawalpindi on October 24.

The revamped selection committee has opted to drop out-of-form Babar Azam from the squad after a series of underwhelming performances. This significant move comes after Pakistan’s disappointing defeat in the first Test, where they lost by an innings and 47 runs, trailing 0-1 in the three-match series.

Babar’s form in Test cricket has been a point of concern for some time. His recent struggles on flat wickets against England were evident, scoring just 35 runs across two innings. The dip in form has extended his drought without a half-century in Test cricket to 18 innings. Since the start of 2023, Babar has played nine Tests, averaging under 21—a stark contrast to his usual prowess at the crease.

Babar Azam after being dismissed in the second innings of the first Test against England in Multan.Reuters.

In addition to Babar, the selectors have decided to rest key pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, as well as veteran wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed, for the remainder of the series. Moreover, leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed has been sidelined due to a bout of dengue fever. These changes have necessitated a significant overhaul of the squad, leading to the inclusion of several fresh faces.

Among the new entrants are Haseebullah, Mehran Mumtaz, and Kamran Ghulam—all uncapped at the Test level—alongside the experienced Mohammad Ali and off-spinner Sajid Khan. Noman Ali and Zahid Mehmood, who were part of the initial squad for the first Test but released later, have also been recalled, adding depth to Pakistan’s spin attack.

A strategic rebuild

The decision to shake up the squad comes in the wake of Pakistan’s prolonged home drought in Test cricket. The team has failed to register a win in their last 11 Test matches at home, losing six consecutive Tests under Shan Masood’s captaincy. This dismal record has put pressure on the management and selectors to find solutions and reverse the slide, especially against a high-quality side like England.

The newly-revamped selection committee, featuring Aaqib Javed, Azhar Ali, former ICC elite umpire Aleem Dar, Asad Shafiq, and analyst Hassan Cheema, alongside the Test captain and coach, were assigned the task of restructuring the squad. This committee was reshaped following the first Test defeat and held two pivotal meetings—one in Lahore and another in Multan—to assess the team's performance and consider potential changes. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, the selection committee, and the five mentors also took part in a meeting on Sunday after which the squad was announced.

Rationale behind changes

Aaqib Javed, speaking on behalf of the committee, shed light on the rationale behind these bold moves.

“Selecting the squad for the upcoming Tests against England has been a challenging task for the selectors. We’ve had to carefully consider current player form, the urgency to bounce back in the series and Pakistan’s demanding 2024-25 international schedule. With these factors in mind and in the best interest of Pakistan cricket as well as the players, we’ve made the decision to rest Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

“We are confident that this break from international cricket will help these players regain their fitness, confidence and composure, ensuring they return in top shape for future challenges. They remain some of our finest talents with much more to contribute to Pakistan cricket. We are fully committed to supporting them during this period so they can come back even stronger.

“At the same time, we are offering opportunities to uncapped players like Haseebullah, Mehran Mumtaz, and Kamran Ghulam, along with Mohammad Ali, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan and Zahid Mehmood. They now have the chance to showcase their skills against a formidable England side. We believe they will rise to the occasion and make the most of this opportunity in the remaining two Tests.”

Focus on spin for second Test

During the aforementioned meeting, the PCB chairman emphasized the need to improve pitch conditions for Test matches. The pitch used in the first Multan Test will be reused for the second match. In the first Test, England capitalized on the flat pitch, amassing a massive total of 823-7, as the surface provided little assistance to the bowlers. Learning from that, the PCB is aiming for a different result this time.

Pakistan cricketers surround Noman Ali to celebrate one of his wickets during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2023.AFP

As cracks began to develop towards the end of the first Test, it is expected that they will be more prominent and impactful from the early stages of the second match. This scenario would benefit Pakistan’s spinners, giving them a chance to exploit the dry surface and generate turn and bounce. To strengthen this strategy, the selectors have included four specialist spinners: Noman Ali, Mehran Mumtaz, Sajid Khan, and Zahid Mehmood.

The plan is clear—attack England through spin, considering that Pakistan’s pace bowlers struggled due to the lack of swing in the first Test. The exclusion of Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi, therefore, is part of a calculated effort to adapt to the conditions and focus on spin as the primary weapon.

Can Pakistan turn the tide?

While these changes signal a fresh approach, they also raise questions about Pakistan’s batting depth and confidence against England’s own spin options. Pakistan’s recent form does not inspire much confidence, but the introduction of new players may provide a much-needed spark.

The remainder of the series will be a litmus test for Pakistan's ability to adapt and compete at home. With a revamped squad and a renewed focus on exploiting the conditions, the upcoming Tests present an opportunity for Pakistan to restore some pride and, perhaps, end their losing streak.

Squad: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir 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