Pakistan added 4 players to its Test squad for Sri Lanka on 7 November, the ICC reported, including three men receiving maiden international call-ups. The revised selection gives captain Babar Azam further options before a home World Test Championship series.
New pace and batting options join the group
The additions are pace-bowling all-rounder Aamer Jamal, fast bowlers Ali Shabbir and Saqib Khan, and batter Muhammad Tayyab Arif. The ICC says Ali, Saqib and Tayyab received their first Pakistan call-ups. All three played in a Patron's XI practice match against Sri Lanka in Islamabad before the squad update.
Jamal returns with previous Test experience. The ICC's 7 November report says he has played nine Tests and credits him with bowling figures of 7/32 and a score of 55 in the President's Trophy Grade-I final. His inclusion gives Pakistan a player with recent domestic contributions with both ball and bat, although the starting side has not yet been announced.
According to the ICC's 7 November update, Tayyab scored 727 runs in seven first-class matches, Saqib took 47 wickets in nine Quaid-e-Azam Trophy games, and Ali collected 22 wickets in eight first-class appearances. Those records explain why the newcomers are in contention, without confirming that any will be picked for the starting side.
SportsRivo checks the initial and revised squads
SportsRivo compared the ICC's initial selection of 24 October with its updated list of 7 November. Ali Usman and Abdullah Fazal appear in the first list but not the new one; Jamal, Ali, Tayyab and Saqib appear only in the update. The earlier report said Pakistan intended to add pacers after a practice game, while the final revision also brought in a batter and an all-rounder.
The series is part of the World Test Championship. The ICC's Sri Lanka squad report names Kusal Mendis as captain, while the Pakistan update retains Babar. The available squad lists define the selection pool; they do not identify either team's starting side.
What the changes mean for selection
- Ali, Tayyab and Saqib can earn maiden international caps if selected for a Test.
- Jamal returns to Pakistan's Test group with both pace-bowling and batting experience.
- Ali Usman and Abdullah Fazal have been released from the revised squad.
Rawalpindi Test comes next
The ICC schedules the first Test for 9 November in Rawalpindi and the second for 17 November in Lahore. The starting teams have yet to be confirmed.
Source: ICC