The PCB Tuesday announced a major revamp of the cricket team ahead of the remaining two Test matches against England, resting key players in an effort to address fitness concerns and poor form. Former captains Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed, pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, and spinner Abrar Ahmed-who is recovering from dengue fever – were all rested as the team prepares for future international assignments.
This decision came after Pakistan’s thumping loss to England by an innings and 47 runs in Multan, which recorded their sixth straight defeat in Test matches. Pakistan has not won a Test since July 2023 after defeating Sri Lanka, and the team’s performance in the ongoing series has been underlined by on-going problems in batting and bowling.
Babar Azam crisis:
Former all-format Pakistan captain Babar Azam had witnessed the worrying performance since December 2022. Babar’s last Test century was the 161-run knock against New Zealand and since then, he has crossed the 40-run mark only once, to be precise, making 41 versus Australia during the Boxing Day Test last year.
Shaheen Afridi’s Fitness Concerns:
Pakistan’s top fast bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi, has been struggling with recurrent fitness problems, especially his knee. In Test cricket so far in 2022, Shaheen has played in 10 matches and taken 30 wickets at an average of 39.33, his best bowling being 4-58 during this period.
Changes in the Squads for the Matches to Come:
In this context, the PCB has responded by resting the lacklustre players, mentioning form and fitness issues as the reasons. New faces are being given a chance in the place of rested ones – wicket-keeper Haseebullah, who made his first Test match debut, spinner Mehran Mumtaz, and Kamran Ghulam. Pakistan has also recalled experienced fast bowler Mohammad Ali and off-spinner Sajid Khan. Spinner Noman Ali and wrist spinner Zahid Mehmood, too, have been reinstated in the squad, which was earlier included in the first Test and then released from the team.
Aqib Javed of the national selection committee said that it was a very tough task to select the squad. He also laid special emphasis on the need to look for the best current form against the urge to regain the momentum in the series and on top of it, the intense overseas circuit of the team in the coming 2024-25 season.
Resting the key players and not “over-exerting” themselves would only help them regain their shape and composure in fitness to face the eventual matches, said Javed. He also stated the new entry will get a chance to play against the very strong England for the remaining games.
Pakistan will play the next two Test matches in Multan and Rawalpindi with an aim of reversal of fortunes against the mighty England team.
