[PICTURES/VIDEOS] Pakistan announce squad for 1st Test against England

[The Bald Eagle]

Pakistan name squad for 1st England Test

Faisalabad, 24 September 2024:

The Pakistan cricket selectors announced a 15-player squad on Tuesday for the first Test against England, set to take place in Multan from 7-11 October.

Following the squad announcement and based on the recommendation of head coach Jason Gillespie, the selected players have been withdrawn from the Champions One-Day Cup playoffs to allow them some rest ahead of the series. The squad will assemble in Multan on Monday, 30 September, with the training camp commencing on 1 October.

Squad (for 1st Test):

Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir 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.

Left-arm spinner Noman Ali, who has taken 47 wickets in 15 Tests, has replaced fast bowler Khurram Shahzad, who is injured.

Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali, who were part of the squad for the Bangladesh Tests, remain firmly in the selectors’ plans. However, due to the selection policy’s emphasis on consistency and continuity, and the belief that 15 players are sufficient for a Test, they have been advised and encouraged to continue representing their teams in the Champions One-Day Cup and the President’s Cup, starting on 3 October, to ensure they stay match-ready through competitive cricket.

Pakistan men’s red-ball head coach, Jason Gillespie:

“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.”

 

[Muhammad Saad]

Wth??? Surgery???

 

[pak.cricket]

Lol what a poor squad this is. Same side lost badly to Bangladesh. Have our standards fallen so low that a loss againt even Bangladesh does not result in changes. A shameful squad that will be thrashed badly. All this is thanks to Mohsin Naqvi. He is all talk but no walk.

 

[Asif321]

Shafique lol

 

[Bilal7]

Babar needs to get back to his best. We desperately need Abrar to develop into a world class spin bowler.

Shan's job is obviously on the line too.

 

[hur rizvi]

Best possible from this :

Saim
Huraira
Shan
Babar
Saud
Agha Salman
Rizwan
Jamal
Noman
Abrar
Naseem

 

[adi_62941]

Huraira???

 

[Rana]

***??? Surgery???

Surgery is on the fans of Pakistan cricket, not on Pakistan cricket itself.

You have all been in an operation theatre without realising it.

 

[Barragan]

Terrible, absolutely terrible!

Zafar Gohar picks up a 6-fer in county cricket, but can't replace a washed noman ali?!?

Another defeat on the cards.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

Huraira???

He is a sitting duck against any decent 140k pacer with the new ball.

 

[Rana]

You could have just dropped Abdullah, picked KG…

Shan could open with Saim, KG at 3 to solidify middle order

Oh well…Marzi hai bhai

 

[Muhammad Saad]

Jamal is also done and dusted , lost about 5-7k of pace since Aus tour.

 

[Ahmed216]

There are no explosive modern day players in this squad except Saud Shakeel.

If Pakistan want to win this series they must replace Rizwan by Sarfaraz in playing 11

 

[Shafi]

Who needs anyone who wants to destroy Pakistan Cricket when you have Naqvi. As usual same old rubbish.

 

[AAli98]

As if xyz players who missed out will make a difference to the incoming 0-3. Washed up stokes has fired warning to Pak today.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1838600259775135788

 

[Nasty Naz]

Disappointing to hear Khurram is injured... I hope it's just bad luck but that's two series now where he has gotten injured. A shame too because he has looked quite solid in his early career.

Barring some turning pitch, it looks like we'll see Shaheen/Naseem/Jamal as the pace attack with Abrar.

Our bowlers have been struggling lately and if Pakistan are to have any chance, our batters need to turn up big time and have themselves a great series and carry their bowlers for once. Considering the series is at home and England have a relatively weakened bowling attack, this theoretically should be doable.

 

[mominsaigol]

So what changed? If anything the squad looks weaker?

 

[Rana]

As if xyz players who missed out will make a difference to the incoming 0-3. Washed up stokes has fired warning to Pak today.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1838600259775135788

I’m not surprised you are using Abdul Ghaffar tweets here

 

[Omer2002]

Awful squad and i mean ALL not just one and Two..

 

[mominsaigol]

Due to selection policy of consistency and continuity? No one has been consistent? And kamran ghulam is your most consistent batter ? What was the point of the odi cup.

When

A) It's not fc cricket

B) you weren't even gonna select?

 

[RyanRyan10]

Kamran Ghulam has not been picked on purpose

 

[mominsaigol]

Kamran Ghulam has not been picked on purpose

It's to protect Shan, not Babar. Everyone knows out of this entire lot Shan is the first who deserves to get a boot.

 

[RyanRyan10]

It's to protect Shan, not Babar. Everyone knows out of this entire lot Shan is the first who deserves to get a boot.

And Shan has been retained for a reason

 

[Cricket Warrior]

doesn't make sense why Noman Ali has been picked again. Don't they have any other spinners in the circuit to try out?

 

[mominsaigol]

And Shan has been retained for a reason

I don't get it? Based of what? To achieve the record of being the only captain to go winless in history?

England are stronger then Bangladesh even in their current state. Heck they'll probably beat Australia in the 3rd odi today and their not with their big guns atm.

They'll be coming in full throttle on easy pitches, againat a shaheen who's had it? What's the plan to beat England?

 

[RidiculousMan]

Khurram is out injured I assume.

 

[Shoaib Akhtar 100 MPH]

There are no explosive modern day players in this squad except Saud Shakeel.

If Pakistan want to win this series they must replace Rizwan by Sarfaraz in playing 11

Saud is not an explosive player and Riz was our top run scorer versus BD.

 

[Ahmed216]

Saud is not an explosive player and Riz was our top run scorer versus BD.

Riz was top scorer but we still lost. With Rizwan in the side we lose invariably

 

[Shoaib Akhtar 100 MPH]

Bringing Nouman back is a crazy decision.

Zafar gohar, Faisal akram and Sufiyaan muqeem were much better options.

Mubasir or Qasim akram could of played a similar role to what Will jacks did last tour for the English.

Saud can bowl left arm spin.

Hasnain is in good form and should be in the squad in place of Mir Hamza.

We need more pace in the bowling line up ASAP.

 

[Shoaib Akhtar 100 MPH]

Riz was top scorer but we still lost. With Rizwan in the side we lose invariably

How does that explain why Safi should replace him?.

 

[RyanRyan10]

I don't get it? Based of what? To achieve the record of being the only captain to go winless in history?

England are stronger then Bangladesh even in their current state. Heck they'll probably beat Australia in the 3rd odi today and their not with their big guns atm.

They'll be coming in full throttle on easy pitches, againat a shaheen who's had it? What's the plan to beat England?

it's a nexus

 

[Slim]

I am so sick and tired of Pakistan cricket. Everything they do is demoralizing. The only good thing is the renovation of the stadiums. But if the team is so pathetic and there is nothing going to change then who will even come in those stadiums to watch this garbage team?

 

[mominsaigol]

Save the effort and ignore this test series.

Pakistan are getting whitewashed, end of story

 

[Slim]

Surgery is on the fans of Pakistan cricket, not on Pakistan cricket itself.

You have all been in an operation theatre without realising it.

They definitely have taken all happiness hormones from Pakistan’s fan post surgery.

 

[samiakh]

As usual no imagination in the squad. Dropping Kamran Ghulam makes no sense. On what basis is Noman Ali back? If anything this squad is recognition and acceptance on the part of the selectors that the cupboard is bare. I’ll be shocked if this attack can take more than 10 wickets in the entire match.

 

[Shoaib Akhtar 100 MPH]

Khurram is out injured I assume.

Yes Nouman Ali has replaced him.

 

[Devadwal]

Pakistan to win the series 2-1.

England bowling attack is average for this series .

 

[Mohraheem]

Misbah was involved in this Selection! Misbah is ruining Pakistan cricket day by day

 

[Ahmed216]

Save the effort and ignore this test series.

Pakistan are getting whitewashed, end of story

But you'll still make close to two thousand posts on match threads during the series to spread awareness about the evils of Rizbab nexus.

 

[Ahmed216]

Pakistan to win the series 2-1.

England bowling attack is average for this series .

England's is average ours is poor. Harry brook alone is enough for us

 

[Rana]

They definitely have taken all happiness hormones from Pakistan’s fan post surgery.

Have you seen the movie “Changeling” directed by Clint Eastwood? Check it out if you haven’t. The mental asylum in which they force patients to admit they are ‘mentally unstable’…that’s how the PCB is basically operating.

They will beat you, electrify you, administer sedatives to force you into believing the problem is with you (the supporters), not them!

The only guy who actually tried to tackle the issue head on was Zaka Ashraf. People won’t like to admit it though.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Jamal is also done and dusted , lost about 5-7k of pace since Aus tour.

We use to have players that would last 10 years. It became 5 years. Then 2. Now they are good for 1 series

This series will decide what level Naseem and Shaheen are. Is it bad form or a lack of ability?

 

[RidiculousMan]

Yes Nouman Ali has replaced him.

I think Noman will deliver. If he gets a turning track, he will show his experience.

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

I think Noman will deliver. If he gets a turning track, he will show his experience.

Tbh not sure people here understand here noman was pak best spinner in that sri lanka series that pak won he is pretty good with pitch that has help for spinners what do you reckon bro?

 

[Rana]

England spinners are there for the taking but you really need to step up and take them down…the issue is our boys will just let them settle in and rip through

England didn’t let any of our spinners settle down the last time they toured.

 

[mominsaigol]

But you'll still make close to two thousand posts on match threads during the series to spread awareness about the evils of Rizbab nexus.

Ofcourse I will, Don't forget shan

 

[PakHammer]

The 11 I would pick

1) Shaan
2) Saim
3) Babar
4) Suad
5) Salman Ali
6) Rizwan
7) Amir Jamal
8) Noman
9) Shaheen
10) Naseem
11) Mir Hamza

We need 5 bowlers especially with Amir come back from injury. Salman is wasted at number 7.

But Pakistan are likely to pay is safe with Salman at number 7 with one of Shaheen or Amir playing.

 

[Rana]

@Cricket Warrior can you please confirm if the Test players will no longer participate in the Champion’s cup?

 

[PakHammer]

@Cricket Warrior can you please confirm if the Test players will no longer participate in the Champion’s cup?

According to cricinfo they have:

The players selected in the Test squad have been withdrawn from the Champions Cup playoffs to enable them to rest before the start of the England series. The squad will assemble in Multan on September 30, with their pre-series training camp starting on October 1.

 

[Rana]

According to cricinfo they have:

The players selected in the Test squad have been withdrawn from the Champions Cup playoffs to enable them to rest before the start of the England series. The squad will assemble in Multan on September 30, with their pre-series training camp starting on October 1.

Well that sucks!

I wanted to see Saim Ayub play in the final!

What’s the point of this?? It’s ok for Seamers but why batsmen?

 

[mominsaigol]

Well that sucks!

I wanted to see Saim Ayub play in the final!

What’s the point of this?? It’s ok for Seamers but why batsmen?

Gotta have rizzu use the excuse of, well we lost because I was not their?

 

[ads101]

Expected squad. There’s very little changes you can make to this squad there’s few other options. I think you back your spinners and pacers for now too.

The only player I would have wanted forced through his Kamran. If he was simply not picked it’s a travesty. If he was injured, then understandable.

 

[Rana]

Who misses out?

Stallions lose: Shan and Babar (blessing in disguise tbf)

Markhors: Rizwan, Agha, Naseem

Lions: Shaheen, Abdullah

Panthers: Saim Ayub (Massive blow)!

 

[ads101]

If the players are rested instead of playing the playoffs of one day cup, that is a ridiculous decision. What is the point of this tournament if you go ahead and do that.

It’s only one or two matches. Let them play.

 

[mominsaigol]

Who misses out?

Stallions lose: Shan and Babar (blessing in disguise tbf)

Markhors: Rizwan, Agha, Naseem

Lions: Shaheen, Abdullah

Panthers: Saim Ayub (Massive blow)!

Babar has been doing well for stallions tbf

 

[Rana]

Babar has been doing well for stallions tbf

He was useless both times when they had to chase

He’s not doing anything special. Just standard stuff

 

[Cricket Warrior]

@Cricket Warrior can you please confirm if the Test players will no longer participate in the Champion’s cup?

never heard anything like that neither it would be a wise decision tbh because I think Test players can easily adapt to the dynamics of the ODI format there is not much difference in both formats but u can expect any sort of bongi from the PCB.

 

[Rana]

Gotta have rizzu use the excuse of, well we lost because I was not their?

You might actually be right, they are pulling out their national players before they further expose themselves.

The Pakistan players honestly have been rubbish in general.

Babar
Rizwan
Abdullah
Shan
Shaheen
Naseem
Saud
Jamal

All have been ordinary. Nothing special. Nothing to make them look like standouts in Pakistan.

Only Salman Agha has been decent, and Saim’s 150 kind of made him look decent otherwise he’s been average too

 

[mominsaigol]

You might actually be right, they are pulling out their national players before they further expose themselves.

The Pakistan players honestly have been rubbish in general.

Babar
Rizwan
Abdullah
Shan
Shaheen
Naseem
Saud
Jamal

All have been ordinary. Nothing special. Nothing to make them look like standouts in Pakistan.

Only Salman Agha has been decent, and Saim’s 150 kind of made him look decent otherwise he’s been average too

Well saim's 150 was the best innings of the tournament so far.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

No wonder why world making fun of Pakistan Cricket!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1838652427408675122

 

[RidiculousMan]

Tbh not sure people here understand here noman was pak best spinner in that sri lanka series that pak won he is pretty good with pitch that has help for spinners what do you reckon bro?

Definitely and I think spin is an area where we potentially have the most probable chance of trapping England. Specially on spin friendly wicket as it has been evident when we've played in Sri Lanka recently. Noman is a decent spinner still.

 

[Farah Sohail]

On what basis Shaheen Afridi is back? jason Gillespie had said last time..we have pinpointed..few things to Shaheen Afridi..for him to work on.. Going by Champions chp performance..it doesnt seem that Shaheen Afridi has improved even a bit….so..on what basis is he back?

@Saj I wish that u had done..interview with Gillespie…after the squad for England series had been announced..so tht relevant questions regarding selections could be asked to him..

 

[Rana]

No wonder why world making fun of Pakistan Cricket!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1838652427408675122

How is this the official Twitter account of Northern cricket? Who’s the guy doing the tweets? Laptop wali sarkar?

 

[Farah Sohail]

Even Naseem Shah doesnt look fully fit and in rhythm… but both Shaheen Naseem are in squad for first test..unfortunately Khurram who was best bowler for Pak,in last series, is out injured..

 

[gazza619]

There are no explosive modern day players in this squad except Saud Shakeel.

If Pakistan want to win this series they must replace Rizwan by Sarfaraz in playing 11

Saud & explosive? He is a cheap copy of Azhar Ali & Asad Shafiq mate.

 

[gazza619]

Garbage squad. Might as well landed a T20 XI led by future star Asif Ali & vice captain Sharjeel Khan.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

If they can't find pacers who can consistently bowl 140k+ spells then go with all spin attack.

It's like we have to feel sorry for them putting in a shift and bending their backs. It's literally their job

If your body can't handle it then make it stronger.

 

[kingusama92]

Even losing 2-0 to Bangladesh at home doesn't bring changes.

This really is a minnow team.

 

[mazkhan]

Noman ali another age fudger that even makes ifthikar look like a youngster.

 

[Slim]

Even losing 2-0 to Bangladesh at home doesn't bring changes.

This really is a minnow team.

Its as if they have simply given up. Like you would at least think out of the box and give players like Ghulam, Muqeem, Irfan Niazi a chance but they will stick to players who have lost against everyone from USA to Bangladesh. Pakistan cricket is truly at its worse right now and seems like nothing is able to move the needle. Beghairti of the highest order. They simply refuse to give any new players any chance at all.

 

[batandballbattle]

Kamran Ghulam overlooked which is a disappointment. Uncle gee Noman back in the side for no discernible reason.

 

[shamaan]

There are no explosive modern day players in this squad except Saud Shakeel.

If Pakistan want to win this series they must replace Rizwan by Sarfaraz in playing 11

Saud Shakeel isn't explosive what cricket have you been watching.

 

[shamaan]

It's to protect Shan, not Babar. Everyone knows out of this entire lot Shan is the first who deserves to get a boot.

To be honest Abdullah his position in the squad is in doubt he proberly has one more series.

 

[Rana]

Bizarre timing of the squad announcement. Was it done straight after the Markhor’s game concluded?

 

[shamaan]

Definitely and I think spin is an area where we potentially have the most probable chance of trapping England. Specially on spin friendly wicket as it has been evident when we've played in Sri Lanka recently. Noman is a decent spinner still.

Noman can't spin the bowl.

 

[shamaan]

Kamran Ghullam should 100% be in this squad also Mubasir should have been thier instead of Garbage Ali.

 

[kingusama92]

They chose Noman because he topped the charts for spinners in domestic cricket last season. But he's useless and it's a waste of a spot.

Sadly the team has so many issues that this is the least of them.

In the end, they're going to get wrecked by England.

 

[moghul]

You could have just dropped Abdullah, picked KG…

Shan could open with Saim, KG at 3 to solidify middle order

Oh well…Marzi hai bhai

yes,

 

[Dr_Bassim]

The balloons saying "Happy Birthday" are definitely doomed now with this type of surgery.

 

[Nasty Naz]

Bringing Nouman back is a crazy decision.

Zafar gohar, Faisal akram and Sufiyaan muqeem were much better options.

Mubasir or Qasim akram could of played a similar role to what Will jacks did last tour for the English.

Saud can bowl left arm spin.

Hasnain is in good form and should be in the squad in place of Mir Hamza.

We need more pace in the bowling line up ASAP.

Faisal Akram has 3 FC games under his belt. Sufiyan has 0. Qasim Akram and Mubasir aren't specialist spinners, they're allrounders and Qasim a fringe one too.

Does Zafar Gohar even want to play for Pakistan at this point? He seems satisfied to play in UK and considering he doesn't ever selected for A teams or Shaheens, I don't think he is in the place for whatever reasons.

I get people knocking Nauman selection but this is simply because Pakistan spin options are an utter disgrace. Nauman is at least an experienced veterans and has given some performances in Tests matches that have been good but most have been ordinary. Plenty of right handed batsmen in England lineup so having a left arm off-spinner to cover your basis with Abrar leg/mystery spin + left arm off-spin and part-time off-spin with Ayub/Salman.

Shan Masood will need to win and have a good series if he wants to retain his captaincy and spot. Kamran/Hurraira will be taking his spot as soon as his captaincy ends.