LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday named Babar Azam as captain for the upcoming Test tours of the West Indies and England, confirming his return to the red-ball leadership while announcing separate squads for the two series.
The announcement was made by the men’s national selection committee during a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium.
Pakistan will play a two-match Test series against the West Indies from July 25 to Aug 6 before touring England for a three-match series scheduled from Aug 19 to Sept 13.
The selectors named a 16-member squad for the West Indies series and a 17-member squad for the England tour. Middle-order batter Saud Shakeel has been included in the England squad, subject to fitness.
The squads feature four uncapped players — left-arm spinner Ali Usman, right-handed batter Muhammad Awais Zafar, right-arm fast bowler Ubaid Shah and wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Ghazi Ghori — as Pakistan continue to inject fresh talent into the Test setup.
Shan Masood, who previously led the Test side, has retained his place in both squads as a specialist batter.
The squad for the West Indies series comprises Babar Azam (captain), Aamir 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, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah.
For the England series, the squad includes Babar Azam (captain), Aamir 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 (subject to fitness), Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah.
Pakistan’s West Indies tour will begin with the opening Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba from July 25 to 29, followed by the second Test at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain from Aug 2 to 6.
The England tour will start with the first Test in Leeds from Aug 19 to 23. The second Test will be played at Lord’s from Aug 27 to 31, while the third and final match is scheduled in Birmingham from Sept 9 to 13.
Babar’s appointment marks his return as Pakistan’s Test captain as the side seeks to improve its fortunes in the longest format during two challenging overseas assignments.
