Babar Azam named Test captain for West Indies, England tours
Babar Azam will not be in action in the longest format of the game until later this year. Photo: AFP/File
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced Pakistan's Test squads for the upcoming tours of the West Indies and England, naming Babar Azam as captain for both series, according to a press release issued by the PCB.
The PCB said the Pakistan Men’s National Selection Committee announced the test squads during a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday.
Pakistan will play a two-match Test series against the West Indies from July 25 to August 6, followed by a three-match Test series against England from August 19 to September 13.
A 16-member squad has been named for the West Indies series, while a 17-member squad has been selected for the England series. The PCB said Saud Shakeel has been included as the 17th member for the England tour, "subject to fitness".
The board added that left-arm spinner Ali Usman, right-handed batter Muhammad Awais Zafar, right-arm fast bowler Ubaid Shah and wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Ghazi Ghori are the uncapped players in the squads.
16-member squad for the West Indies series:
Babar Azam (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam ul Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicket-keeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah
17-member squad for the England series:
Babar Azam (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam ul Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Muhammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicket-keeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel (subject to fitness), Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah
The West Indies series will be played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba from July 25 to 29 and at Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain from August 2 to 6.
Pakistan will then travel to England for a three-match Test series, with matches scheduled in Leeds (August 19-23), Lord's (August 27-31) and Birmingham (September 9- 13), the PCB said.