Pakistan have made significant alterations to their Test squad ahead of the two-match series against Sri Lanka, dropping two players and bringing in a quartet of newcomers. Just two days before the opening Test in Rawalpindi, the inclusion of new players reflects the team’s strategic approach.
The uncapped Ali Shabbir and Saqib Khan, both of whom recently played in a warm-up match against Sri Lanka, have been added to the squad. Seam-bowling all-rounder Aamer Jamal and 20-year-old batsman Tayyab Arif have also earned call-ups. Meanwhile, opener Abdullah Fazal and off-spinner Ali Usman have been omitted.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not commented on the rationale behind Fazal and Usman’s exclusions. Fazal’s Test journey began earlier this year against Bangladesh after he excelled in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final. His subsequent tours to the West Indies and England were hampered by injury, although he was recalled for the Edgbaston Test but did not play.
For Ali Usman, this marks another squad absence following a similar fate against England in September. Head coach Mike Hesson had previously alluded to Usman’s limited role in the squad, highlighting challenges when conditions weren’t favourable for spin. Usman bowled only two overs in the warm-up against Sri Lanka.
This reshuffle hints at a likely focus on pace-friendly pitches in Rawalpindi, in stark contrast to previous spin-friendly conditions experienced in Pakistan Test matches. The current squad now predominantly features pace options, with Arafat Minhas as the sole spin-specialist, who also bats in the lower-middle order.
In earlier instances, Pakistan had designed spinning tracks particularly against touring sides lacking robust spin attacks, a scenario not applicable to the current Sri Lankan squad. The adverse choice of a relatively flat pitch against Bangladesh in 2024 led to a sizeable total of 565 by the visitors, contributing to Pakistan’s series loss.
Pakistan face an urgent need for a turnaround in their World Test Championship performance, currently languishing at the bottom of the standings with a mere points percentage of 4.63. This is considerably lower than the next-best West Indies. In contrast, Sri Lanka hold the seventh spot in the table.
The series is scheduled to kick off in Rawalpindi on 9 November, followed by the second Test in Lahore on 17 November.
Ali Shabbir
Saqib Khan
Aamer Jamal
Tayyab Arif
Abdullah Fazal
Ali Usman
Pakistan
ICC World Test Championship
Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan
