Shan to lead Pakistan as PCB names 15-member squad for first Test

ISLAMABAD: Shan Masood has been retained captain for the three-match Test series against England as the PCB selectors announced a 15-men squad for the first Test starting at Multan Stadium on October 7.

There are three changes from the squad that was there for the two-Test match series against Bangladesh. Left-arm spinner Noman Ali, who has taken 47 wickets in 15 Tests, has replaced fast bowler Khurram Shahzad, who is injured. Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali have also been relieved.

Well-placed sources have told ‘The News’ that red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie has shown all-out support for Shan, making it clear that the continuity factor holds immense importance. Shan Masood will lead the team going into the Test series against England as the Test team head coach is not in favour of making any changes at the helm of affairs. He wants Shan to stay as skipper of the team for the series.

The head coaches of each format of the game have been empowered by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi to decide on the team leadership. Jason has shown support for Shan and has expressed his desire that he should continue to lead the team for the series against England.

Shan has set an unceremonious record by becoming the first captain in Pakistan Test history to have lost all the first five Test matches. As a captain his team was swept by Australia 3-0 with Bangladesh also tasted a rare 2-0 clean sweep over Shan Masood’s team.

Since the team was whitewashed by Bangladesh just recently, the pressure had mounted on the PCB to change the captaincy. Besides captaincy, Shan’s performance as a top-order batsman has been a matter of real concern.

Jason, however, has come to Shan’s rescue, recommending to the PCB to continue him as red-ball captain for the series. Following the squad announcement and based on the recommendation of head coach Jason Gillespie, the selected players have been withdrawn from the Champions One-Day Cup playoffs to allow them some rest ahead of the series. The squad will assemble in Multan on Monday, September 30, with the training camp commencing on October 1.

“Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali, who were part of the squad for the Bangladesh Tests, remain firmly in the selectors’ plans. However, due to the selection policy’s emphasis on consistency and continuity, and the belief that 15 players are sufficient for a Test, they have been advised and encouraged to continue representing their teams in the Champions One-Day Cup and the President’s Cup, starting on 3 October, to ensure they stay match-ready through competitive cricket,” selectors observed.

Pakistan men’s red-ball head coach, Jason Gillespie: “With a busy domestic and international cricket schedule, it makes sense to give our players some much-needed rest ahead of the Test series against England.

“We are very much looking forward to the series against England here in Pakistan and cannot wait for it to begin. We are excited about playing in front of our wonderful supporters.” Squad for the first Test: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), and Shaheen Shah Afridi.