Pakistan Add Four To Test Squad For Sri Lanka Series

Pakistan have revised their squad for the two Test home series against Sri Lanka, bringing in four players and releasing two. The Pakistan Test squad now holds 16 names. Babar Azam captains it. Three of the four additions have never played international cricket.

The first Test starts at Rawalpindi on 9 November. The series counts towards the World Test Championship.

Two days separate the announcement from the first ball. That is a narrow window for players who have not been in the Test group, and it leaves little time for the squad to settle before Rawalpindi.

Four in, two out

Aamer Jamal, Ali Shabbir, Muhammad Tayyab Arif and Saqib Khan join the squad. Ali Usman and Abdullah Fazal have been released. The squad settles on 16. Here it is in full.

• Babar Azam (captain)
• Aamer Jamal
• Ali Shabbir
• Arafat Minhas
• Azan Awais
• Mohammad Abbas
• Mohammad Ghazi Ghori
• Mohammad Suleman
• Mohammad Taha
• Muhammad Tayyab Arif
• Razaullah
• Saad Baig
• Salman Ali Agha
• Sameer Minhas
• Saqib Khan
• Saud Shakeel

Three uncapped names from the Patron’s XI match

Tayyab Arif, Ali Shabbir and Saqib Khan are the uncapped trio. All three played in the Patron’s XI three day practice fixture against the touring Sri Lankans. Selectors have taken them straight from that match into the Test squad.

Three uncapped players in a group of 16 is a high proportion for a home Test series. It points to a selection panel willing to use the practice fixture as a trial rather than a warm-up. For boards and academies running their own pathway sides, that is the part worth watching.

Jamal back among the seamers

Aamer Jamal returns to the Test group and adds to the pace options alongside Mohammad Abbas. Jamal has played Test cricket for Pakistan before, which separates him from the other three arrivals. Arafat Minhas and Salman Ali Agha remain in the squad.

Abbas is the senior seamer. Jamal gives the attack a second experienced option and some batting below the top order. Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha stay in the middle order, with Saad Baig and Azan Awais also retained.

Rawalpindi first, then Lahore

Rawalpindi hosts the opening Test from 9 to 13 November. Lahore takes the second from 17 to 21 November. Babar Azam leads a group with a short gap between the two matches, an extra seamer in Jamal and three uncapped players to choose from.

Both venues are familiar ground for a Pakistan side playing at home. The short turnaround between the Tests means the 16 named here will almost certainly see out the series, with no scheduled window to add anyone else in between.