Pakistan vs England second Test: Babar, Shaheen, Naseem dropped from squad

Pakistan’s former cricket captain and leading batter Babar Azam has been excluded from the hosts’ Test squad after a poor run of form and will not be considered for the second and third Test matches against England.

Babar, who was Pakistan’s all-format captain until November, will be joined on the sidelines by leading pace bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement on Sunday

“We have made the decision to rest Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Shaheen Shah Afridi [from the Test squad]”, selector Aqib Javed said while announcing the squad.

Javed, a former Pakistan fast bowler himself, said the call to drop the star players was taken on the basis of “current form and fitness”, as well as in consideration of Pakistan’s upcoming cricket tours.

Leg-spin bowler Abrar Ahmed, who is recovering from dengue fever and missed part of the first Test, was declared unavailable for selection.

Squad (for second and third Tests): Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha and Zahid Mehmood.