The Pakistan Cricket Board today announced its first Test squad. The test series starts on October 7 in Multan. It has mostly brought back the key players and has seen a tremendous shift in the team lineup.
Shan Masood Leads the Charge
Shan Masood has been selected as a captain for the Pakistan Test series, in which they are playing against the English team. The decision has been taken after the tough period that the Pakistani team has faced recently. They lost the clean sweep against Bangladesh during that time. Shan Masood is one of the experienced cricketers for Pakistan; he is 37 years old. The reason behind making Shan Masood a captain again is to bring in a positive outcome for the upcoming matches. The comeback of Noman Ali.
Noman Ali, who has been sidelined for more than 14 months with an injury. Plus, he has a glittering record of taking 47 wickets in 15 Test matches, returns to the team. His comeback is also going to benefit the Pakistani bowling setup. It is because he adds depth regarding strategy and provides much-needed experience to the Test game.
PCB Announces the Squads and Strategy
The PCB selectors have finalized a 15-member squad, focusing on continuity and performance. On his recommendation, head coach Jason Gillespie pulled out the selected players from the Champions One-Day Cup playoffs. It will help them attain much-needed rest and preparatory time ahead of the series against England. The team will join the training camp in Multan by September 30 and commence their camp on October 1.
Key Players in the Squad
There is bright talent along with Shan Masood and Noman Ali, which is supposed to help resurrect the red-ball dominance of the team. Vice-captain Saud Shakeel, along with an experienced wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan and the rising fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, do their part in making a difference for Pakistan against England by focusing on preparation and readiness.
The selectors have prompted Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali from Bangladesh Tests to play in the domestic tournaments, focusing on match fitness and competition advantage. In this way, strategic decisions ensure players are constantly at their best and stay prepared with the core contribution of active participation in the Champions One-Day Cup and President’s Cup.
Conclusion
Pakistan’s announcement of its first Test squad against England reflects a strategic approach by PCB in trying to reinvigorate the team in light of recent disappointments. It is hoped that under the experienced leadership of Shan Masood or returning vice-captain Noman Ali, they can finally fight off the initial phase against England. This series at Multan will be a test of all endurance and skill for the Pakistan cricketers.
