Pakistan names Test squad for West Indies series

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled a 15-member squad for the two-match Test series against the West Indies, set to take place in Multan from January 17 to 29.

The squad features seven changes from the South Africa tour, with Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan, Noman Ali, and Salman Ali Agha retained.

To bolster the spin attack, off-spinner Sajid Khan and mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed have been recalled to join left-arm spinner Noman Ali. Openers Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Huraira also return, replacing the injured Saim Ayub and the out-of-form Abdullah Shafique.

In a strategic move to manage workloads, pacers Aamir Jamal, Mohammad Abbas, Mir Hamza, and Naseem Shah have been rested. Their spots are filled by retained Khurram Shahzad, recalled Mohammad Ali, and uncapped Kashif Ali.

Furthermore, wicketkeeper-batter Rohail Nazir has been included following Haseebullah’s injury, which he sustained during the Cape Town Test.

Pakistan squad

Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wk), Sajid Khan, and Salman Ali Agha.