PAK vs ENG: Pakistan name squad for 1st Test, Noman Ali replaces Khurram Shahzad

PAK vs ENG: Left-arm Noman Ali has replaced injured fast bowler Khurram Shahzad as Pakistan named a 15-member squad for the opening Test against England.

In Short

• Khurram Shahzad is recovering from injury
• Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali have been left out
• Pakistan team will assemble in Multan on September 30

Pakistan named a strong 15-member squad for the first Test against England. Fast bowler Khurram Shahzad missed out after he complained off stiffness on the left side of his body in the second Test against Bangladesh. In his place, the hosts roped in left-arm spinner Noman Ali, who has 47 wickets and a top score of 97 to his name from 15 Tests.

Batter Kamran Ghulam, who scored two hundreds in the Pakistan Champions One Day Cup, and fast bowler Mohammad Ali have been left out “due to the selection policy's emphasis on consistency and continuity and the belief that 15 players are sufficient for a Test”.

They will continue with their stint in the Champions Cup and the upcoming President’s Cup to be held from October 3.

“With a busy domestic and international cricket schedule, it makes sense to give our players some much-needed rest ahead of the Test series against England,” Pakistan men’s red-ball head coach, Jason Gillespie said.

“With a busy domestic and international cricket schedule, it makes sense to give our players some much-needed rest ahead of the Test series against England.

“We are very much looking forward to the series against England here in Pakistan and cannot wait for it to begin. We are excited about playing in front of our wonderful supporters.”

The first Test is scheduled to start on Monday, October 7 at the Multan Cricket Stadium. The team will assemble in Multan on Monday, September 30 and will begin training on Tuesday, October 1.

Shan Masood’s men will be looking to make amends after losing 2-0 to Najmul Hossain Shanto’s Bangladesh.

Pakistan squad for first Test against England

Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), and Shaheen Shah Afridi