Babar Azam, Naseem Shah & Shaheen Afridi Dropped for 2nd Test Against England – Startup Pakistan

The national cricket squad for Pakistan’s second and third Test matches against England has been announced, with some notable changes. Former captain Babar Azam, fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi, as well as wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed, have been left out of the team. The decision to drop these key players was made to better align with Pakistan’s future international cricket commitments.

To fill their spots, the selectors have brought in several fresh faces and returning players. Wicketkeeper Haseebullah, spinner Mehran Mumtaz, batsman Kamran Ghulam, fast bowler Muhammad Ali, and off-spinner Sajid Khan are the new additions to the squad. Spinner Abrar Ahmed, who had been a key player in previous matches, will be missing out due to illness as he is currently recovering from dengue fever. In his absence, both Nauman Ali and Zahid Mahmood, who were initially dropped, have now been recalled to strengthen the team’s spin options.

The selection committee shared that it was not an easy task to finalize the team for the upcoming Tests, especially considering Pakistan’s busy international schedule in 2024. The selectors are looking to balance both experience and fresh talent as they prepare for important matches ahead.

These changes reflect a strategic approach to ensure that Pakistan’s cricket team remains competitive in the long term while also giving opportunities to new and returning players to showcase their skills on the international stage. The upcoming matches will be crucial, as the selected players will need to step up and perform against a strong England side.