Pakistan have announced a 14-member squad for their upcoming two-match home Test series against Sri Lanka, with Salman Ali Agha returning to the side and three uncapped players earning maiden call-ups. The Test squad is full of young blood, as claimed by Mohsin Naqvi earlier on Saturday , and seniors like former captain Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq have been snubbed.
While Rizwan and Imam are still under investigation for their conduct on the England tour, Masood was said to be ‘fearful’ of getting dropped despite scoring a 90 in the final Test of that series.
Led by Babar Azam, the squad features Agha, who impressed in domestic cricket after being dropped midway through Pakistan’s away series against England in August-September. The all-rounder scored a triple century and a century for Kingsmen Academy in the ongoing President’s Trophy Grade-I 2026/27.
Left-arm spinner Ali Usman has also returned to the squad after being left out of the third Test against England. Usman made headlines in August by becoming the first overseas player since 1972 to claim a five-wicket haul at Headingley.
Sameer Minhas, Mohammad Taha and Mohammad Suleman are the three uncapped players included following impressive domestic performances. Taha leads the President’s Trophy run charts with 730 runs in seven matches, including three centuries and a highest score of 225. Suleman has scored 652 runs, while Sameer has amassed 405 runs in the tournament.
Experienced pacer Mohammad Abbas has retained his place after being named joint Player of the Series in Pakistan’s most recent red-ball assignment. Two additional fast bowlers will be selected following a three-day warm-up match against Sri Lanka’s Test squad in Islamabad from November 4 to 6.
The first Test will be played in Rawalpindi from November 9 to 13, followed by the second in Lahore from November 17 to 21. The series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27.
Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Taha, Razaullah, Saad Baig (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Sameer Minhas and Saud Shakeel.
Former captain Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan, and Imam-ul-Haq have been dropped from Pakistan's 14-member Test squad for the Sri Lanka series. While Rizwan and Imam remain under investigation for their conduct during the England tour, Masood was sidelined despite scoring a 90 in the final Test of that series.
Babar Azam has been named to lead the 14-member Pakistan Test squad for the upcoming two-match home series against Sri Lanka.
The first Test will be held in Rawalpindi from November 9 to 13, followed by the second Test in Lahore from November 17 to 21. Additionally, a three-day warm-up match against Sri Lanka's Test squad is scheduled in Islamabad from November 4 to 6.
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