The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday unveiled the national Test squads for the upcoming tours of the West Indies and England, with Babar Azam returning to lead the side in the longest format.
The announcement was made during a press conference in Lahore by the PCB selection committee, comprising Aqib Javed, Asad Shafiq and Misbah-ul-Haq.
Pakistan will field a 16-member squad for the two-Test series in the West Indies, while a 17-member squad has been selected for the England tour. Saud Shakeel has been included in the England squad, subject to receiving medical clearance.
Four uncapped players have earned call-ups: left-arm spinner Ali Usman, right-handed batter Muhammad Awais Zafar, fast bowler Ubaid Shah and wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Ghazi Ghori.
All-rounder Aamer Jamal has returned to the Test setup for the first time since Pakistan’s 2025 series against South Africa. The pace attack includes Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Ubaid Shah and Khurram Shahzad.
Addressing the decision to replace the Test captain while retaining the selection committee, Aqib Javed said the panel evaluates performances independently across all three formats and considers captaincy a separate responsibility.
He noted that although Shan Masood had delivered solid individual performances, the team had not achieved the desired results under his leadership.
“We felt a leadership change was necessary to help improve the team’s overall performance,” he said.
Aqib also highlighted the need to improve the pace and effectiveness of Pakistan’s fast bowlers, describing it as an important area for development.
Misbah-ul-Haq emphasised that consistency remains the primary criterion in team selection, saying the panel closely assesses whether players and captains have maintained high standards over an extended period.
Defending Babar Azam’s appointment, Misbah said the right-handed batter continues to be one of Pakistan’s most valuable cricketers across all formats.
“Babar Azam is capable of contributing in every format. Our responsibility is to support him with confidence and determine where he can best benefit the team,” he said.
He also dismissed speculation that players omitted from the current squad had reached the end of their international careers, saying future selections would continue to depend on performance.
Misbah said Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi should play more first-class cricket to sharpen their red-ball skills, adding that neither has produced their best performances with the red ball in recent matches.
Pakistan’s two-Test series against the West Indies will be played in Trinidad and Tobago, with the opening Test scheduled from July 25 to 29 and the second from August 2 to 6.
The team will then travel to England for a three-match Test series. The first Test will begin at Headingley in Leeds on August 19, followed by the second at Lord’s on August 27. The final Test will be played at Edgbaston in Birmingham from September 9.
Pakistan Test Squad:
Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Muhammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah.
Saud Shakeel’s place in the England squad remains subject to fitness clearance.
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