The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced its playing XI for the first Test against England, set to take place in Multan.
The team features the return of key pace bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Aamir Jamal, forming a formidable pace trio. Both Shaheen and Naseem are making their comebacks after missing the second Test against Bangladesh. Aamir Jamal has been included after a remarkable debut Test series against Australia, where he picked up 18 wickets, proving himself as a valuable all-rounder.
To make room for these changes, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, and Mir Hamza have been dropped from the XI.
Shahzad was one of the standout bowlers in Pakistan’s last Test against Bangladesh, but the management has opted to go with experience and versatility in this crucial series against England. Spinner Abrar Ahmed retains his spot, providing a key spin option alongside the pace attack.
The top seven batters from the previous series remain unchanged, with Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique opening, and skipper Shan Masood, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, and Salman Ali Agha rounding out the batting order.
England, meanwhile, will be without their captain Ben Stokes, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury. The first two Tests will be played in Multan, with the final match taking place in Rawalpindi. Pakistan currently sits eighth in the World Test Championship standings, while England is placed fourth.
Pakistan XI:
- Saim Ayub
- Abdullah Shafique
- Shan Masood (c)
- Babar Azam
- Saud Shakeel
- Mohammad Rizwan
- Salman Ali Agha
- Aamir Jamal
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Naseem Shah
- Abrar Ahmed.
