Former Pakistan captains Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi will likely be left out of the squad for the second Test match against England, set to begin on October 15 at Multan Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan suffered a major defeat in the first Test against England, even after scoring over 500 runs in the first innings. Babar Azam managed only 35 runs across two innings, while fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi took just one wicket.
According to Pakistan’s ARY News, the squad for the second Test will be announced after discussions with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The selection committee has already talked with the captain and head coach.
Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood has not won a single Test match, and there are now rumors that he might be removed from captaincy after the team’s sixth straight Test loss, including some embarrassing defeats in history.
The reports said, “The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has restructured the selection committee. The new committee will strategize for the upcoming Test matches and deliberate on team leadership changes.”
Media reports suggest that Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, and Salman Ali Agha are possible candidates to replace Shan Masood as Test captain amid talks of a leadership change.
According to the local media reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board is thinking to change the captain of the team and they have shortlisted some candidates for it. The report claims that Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, and Salman Ali Agha are the running ahead in the race to become next PAK captain.
The PCB will announce the squad for the second Test match against England on October 13 (today). It is expected that the board will include two new spinners in the team.
