Summary Babar Azam to lead Green Shirts; Shan Masood dropped
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Pakistan have announced an initial 14-member Test squad for their upcoming two-match ICC World Test Championship series against Sri Lanka, with three uncapped batters earning maiden call-ups after impressive performances in domestic first-class cricket.
Babar Azam will continue to captain the national side, while former skipper Shan Masood has been left out of the squad for the home series.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the squad on Saturday, with the two Tests scheduled to take place in Rawalpindi and Lahore from 9 to 21 November. Left-handed batters Sameer Minhas, Mohammad Taha and Mohammad Suleman have been rewarded for their domestic performances, while left-arm spinner Ali Usman and batter Salman Ali Agha have also been included.
The initial squad will be strengthened by two fast bowlers following a three-day warm-up match against Sri Lanka, which will be played at Islamabad Club from 4 to 6 November.
Domestic performers rewarded
Mohammad Taha has emerged as one of the leading performers in the President’s Trophy Grade-I first-class tournament, which began in September. The 26-year-old has scored 730 runs in seven matches, including three centuries, with his highest score standing at 225.
Mohammad Suleman has also made a strong impression in the competition, occupying fifth place in the tournament’s batting charts with 652 runs in seven matches. He has registered three centuries, strengthening his case for a place in the national Test set-up.
Sameer Minhas, meanwhile, has scored 405 runs in seven matches during his maiden first-class season. The batter previously impressed with Pakistan’s Under-19 side before securing his first call-up to the senior Test squad.
The three selections provide Pakistan with additional batting options ahead of the series, while the inclusion of Ali Usman adds a left-arm spin option to the bowling resources.
Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, wicketkeepers Mohammad Ghazi Ghori and Saad Baig, Razaullah and Saud Shakeel have also retained their places. Babar Azam will lead the side, with Salman Ali Agha among the other established names in the line-up.
Pace additions pending
The PCB has confirmed that two fast bowlers will be selected from the Patron’s XI after the warm-up match against Sri Lanka concludes on 6 November. The initial 14-member squad is therefore expected to expand ahead of the first Test.
Wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig will captain the 13-member PCB Patron’s XI for the preparatory fixture. The side includes six players named in Pakistan’s initial Test squad: Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Taha and Sameer Minhas.
The Patron’s XI pace options include Mohammad Salman, Shoaib Akhtar Jnr, Ali Shabbir, Saqib Khan and Ubaid Shah. Batter Mohammad Tayyab Arif completes the squad.
The warm-up match will provide the coaching and selection staff with an opportunity to assess the players before finalising the pace attack for the two-Test series.
Test series schedule
The opening Test will be played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 9 to 13 November. The teams will then move to Lahore for the second match at Gaddafi Stadium, scheduled for 17 to 21 November.
Both matches form part of the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship cycle.
Pakistan Test squad: Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Taha, Razaullah, Saad Baig (wicketkeeper), Salman Ali Agha, Sameer Minhas and Saud Shakeel.
PCB Patron’s XI: Saad Baig (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Fazal, Ali Shabbir, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Mohammad Salman, Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha, Saqib Khan, Sameer Minhas, Shoaib Akhtar Jnr and Ubaid Shah.
