New Delhi. Nothing is going well for former Pakistan captain Babar Azam these days. Babar's bat is upset with him. Due to poor form, PCB has dropped him from the team. Pakistani selectors announced the team for the upcoming second and third Test matches against England in which Babar Azam, along with fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Sarfaraz were shown the way out. Later PCB said that they had given rest to their main players considering their current form and fitness.
The PCB said, 'We believe that this break from international cricket will help these players regain their fitness, confidence and patience. Keeping in mind the current form and fitness of the key players and Pakistan's future in the 2024-25 international cricket season, the selectors have decided to rest Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.'
Three players in the team for the first time
PCB further said, 'Hasibullah, Mehran Mumtaz, Kamran Ghulam (all uncapped), fast bowler Mohammad Ali and off-spinner Sajid Khan have been included in place of four players. Noman Ali and Zahid Mahmood, who were initially part of the first Test team but were later released, have also been included in the 16-player squad.'
Pakistan team for the second and third Tests:
Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafiq, Hasibullah (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Zahid Mahmood.
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