It has been some time since Babar Azam was in good form. In the first Test match against England, he scored 35 runs in all. He hit 30 runs in the first inning, and after scoring 5 runs in the second, he went back to the pavilion. Babar Azam and three other key players were dropped from the team as soon as the new PCB selectors took over. Following the star players’ departure from the team, PCB reacted.
Babar Azam, the former captain of Pakistan, is not having a good day. That Babar’s bat is mad at him. PCB has removed him from the team due to his poor performance. Babar Azam was left out of the team that Pakistani selectors announced for the second and third Test matches against England, along with fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Sarfaraz. Later, PCB said that, because of their current fitness and form, they gave their key players a break.
The PCB said, ‘We think these players will gain something from a break from international cricket in terms of health, confidence, and patience.’The selectors have opted to rest Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Babar Azam, and Naseem Shah in light of Pakistan’s chances in the 2024–25 international cricket season as well as the form and fitness of the important players.
There are three new players on the team
The PCB went on, “As opposed to four players, Hasibullah, Mehran Mumtaz, Kamran Ghulam (all uncapped), Mohammad Ali, the fast bowler, and off-spinner Sajid Khan have been picked.” The 16-player team includes Noman Ali and Zahid Mahmood, who were dropped after playing for the first Test team.
The Pakistani team for the third and second 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, and Zahid Mahmood.