ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 15-member team for the upcoming two-Test series against the West Indies, to be started in Multan from January 17 to 29.
This squad features seven fresh faces from the Test line-up that recently toured South Africa. Retained players include captain Shan Masood, vice-captain Saud Shakeel, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan, Nauman Ali, and Salman Ali Agha.
To bolster the spin attack, off-spinner Sajid Khan and left-arm spinner Nauman Ali join forces with leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed. Openers Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Huraira have been brought back to replace the injured Saim Ayub and out-of-form Abdullah Shafique.
In a strategic move for workload management, Amir Jamal, Mohammad Abbas, Mir Hamza, and Naseem Shah have been rested. In their stead, Khurram Shahzad remains, while Mohammad Ali and Kashif Ali have been called up.
With wicketkeeper-batter Hasibullah sidelined due to injury, former Pakistan Under-19 captain and Shaheen’s skipper Rohail Nazir steps in.
Pakistan’s Squad for the West Indies Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Haris, Muhammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper/batter), Nauman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper/batter), and Sajid Khan.
Pakistan Test squad announced for West Indies series 🚨
First match begins on 17 January in Multan 🏏
Read more ➡️ https://t.co/MNZF4dWjKH#PAKvWI pic.twitter.com/gvgast4Sbj
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 11, 2025
The West Indies will face Pakistan in back-to-back Tests in Multan, with the first Test scheduled for January 17-21 and the second from January 25-29.
This marks the West Indies’ first Test tour of Pakistan in 19 years, having last played three Tests here in November 2006. Their most recent away series against Pakistan took place in the UAE in October 2016. However, since April 2018, the West Indies have visited Pakistan three times, participating in an ODI series in June 2022 and T20I series in April 2018 and December 2021.
Test series schedule
First Test at Multan Cricket Stadium: January 17-21
Second Test at Multan Cricket Stadium: January 25-29
