Babar Azam returns to red-ball captaincy. (Photo- PTI)
Babar Azam Appointed Pakistan Test Captain: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) held a press conference against West Indies and England.
Babar Azam, Pakistan Test Captain, shan masood, Pakistan cricket team, Babar Azam
The test team for the tour has been announced. Along with this, the captain of Pakistan Test team has also been changed. Star batsman Babar Azam has been appointed captain of the team for both these important tours. Pakistan team will start this tour from West Indies, where it will play a two-match Test series. Immediately after this, the Pakistani team will move to England, where a three-match Test series is to be played between the two countries.
Babar Azam returns to red-ball captaincy
Taking a big decision, Pakistan Cricket Board has removed Shan Masood from the post of captain of the Test team. Due to which Babar has returned to the captaincy. After resigning from the captaincy at the end of 2023, Babar Azam will once again be seen as the Test captain of Pakistan. Babar Azam has commanded the Pakistan team in 20 test matches so far. Out of which the team has won 10 matches. At the same time, under the captaincy of Shan Masood, Pakistan had to face defeat in 12 out of 16 test matches. Due to which this change has happened.
Entry of 4 new players also
The selection committee has selected a team of 16 players for the West Indies tour. At the same time, a 17-member team has been announced for the England tour. Saud Shakeel has been included in the England tour squad as the 17th player, although his participation will completely depend on his fitness report. Apart from this, left-arm spinner Ali Usman, right-handed batsman Mohammad Awais Zafar, right-arm fast bowler Ubaid Shah and wicketkeeper batsman Mohammad Ghazi Ghori, who have performed brilliantly in domestic cricket, have been included in the Test team for the first time.
16-member squad for West Indies tour:
Babar Azam (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azaan Awais, Imam ul Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Awais Zafar, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Aga, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah.
17-member squad for England tour:
Babar Azam (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azaan Awais, Imam ul Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Awais Zafar, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Aga, Saud Shakeel (depending on fitness), Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah.
West Indies Test Series Schedule:
- First Test: 25 to 29 July Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarauba
- Second Test: 2 to 6 August Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain
England Test Series Schedule:
- First Test: 19 to 23 August, Leeds
- Second Test: 27 to 31 August, Lord’s
- Third Test: 9 to 13 September, Birmingham
