Pakistan is all set to drop star batter and former captain Babar Azam from the playing XI of the second Test against England, which is set to start on Tuesday (October 15) in Multan. The 29-year-old Babar is horribly out of form these days. He hasn’t scored a fifty for Pakistan in his last 18 innings. In the series opener against the Ollie Pope-led side, Babar scored 30 and 5 runs for the Shan Masood & Co.
According to a report in ESPNCricinfo on Sunday (October 13), “Babar’s dropping was recommended by the newly formed selection committee, which met in Lahore after Pakistan lost the first Test by an innings margin in Multan on Friday (October 10). They met for a second time on Saturday in Multan in a session that included Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi as well as the five mentors appointed by the PCB on three-year deals.”
“It is understood the selection panel collectively felt Babar would benefit from time away from the national side as runs remain elusive.”
As per the available information, the new selection panel includes Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, former ICC umpire Aleem Dar, analyst Hassan Cheema, and the captain and head coach of the format for which the squad is being selected.
The selectors met with Shan Masood and Jason Gillespie on Saturday, and it has been reported that some of the mentors were in favour of keeping Babar, but the majority were in favour of the dropping.
Babar is unlikely to be the only change for Pakistan in the second Test. Spinner Abrar Ahmed is unlikely to recover for the must-win match for the hosts, and in his place Noman Ali or Sajid Khan could get a game.
Pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi could also sit out of the second Test. The left-arm pacer is struggling to find his old form and could be dropped to the bench. The 24-year-old cricketer was excluded from the Pakistan squad for the second Test against Bangladesh in August-September as well.
Pakistan, which sits in last position in the WTC 2023-25 points table, can’t afford to lose the second Test against England, as it will not only lead to the series defeat but also rule them out of the WTC final race.
Comments
0 comment