Overview
- The Pakistan Cricket Board announced the initial 14‑member Test squad on Saturday, Oct. 24, naming Babar Azam captain and leaving out former skipper Shan Masood.
- The squad recalls Salman Ali Agha and left‑arm spinner Ali Usman while handing maiden call-ups to three uncapped batters: Sameer Minhas, Mohammad Taha and Mohammad Suleman.
- Shan Masood’s omission follows a left‑calf injury and questions over match fitness, and selectors have explicitly said they will use the series to test younger domestic performers.
- A three‑day Patron’s XI warm‑up in Islamabad from Nov. 4–6 will precede the Tests and selectors will add two fast bowlers from that side to finalise the pace attack.
- The changes follow a run of poor Test results, including a 3‑0 loss in England, Pakistan’s bottom place in the WTC standings, and off‑field inquiries that have kept players such as Mohammad Rizwan out of selection discussions.