(AP Photo)
Following a surprising 10-wicket loss to Bangladesh in the first Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan will confront Najmul Hossain Shanto’s side again at the same venue starting Friday, August 30. On the eve of this crucial second Test, Pakistan announced their 12-man squad for the series finale on X (formerly Twitter), notably without Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Afridi, who recently became a father, led Pakistan’s pace attack in the series opener and claimed two wickets. However, he has been omitted from the squad, with pacer Mir Hamza and spinner Abrar Ahmed joining the team in his place.
It remains uncertain whether Shaheen Afridi’s absence from the squad is due to being dropped or simply rested. Afridi, Pakistan’s all-time leading wicket-taker in World Test Championship history, had previously missed the third Test against Australia in Sydney in January 2024.
Pakistan’s decision to field four seamers in the first Test against Bangladesh backfired, prompting speculation that spinner Abrar Ahmed might be included in the lineup for the second Test. The team will need to decide if both Khurram Shehzad and Mohammad Ali will keep their spots or if one will be replaced by Mir Hamza.
Naseem Shah is expected to be a key player in the XI and will lead the attack under captain Shan Masood. After their historic loss to Bangladesh in the first Test, Pakistan will be eager to deliver a strong performance in the second Test to avoid the embarrassment of losing the series.
Star batter and former captain Babar Azam, along with skipper Shan Masood, struggled in the first Test. Their performance will be crucial in the must-win second Test.
Pakistan’s 12-man squad for the 2nd Test: Shan Masood (C), Saud Shakeel (VC), Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Agha Salman, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Abrar Ahmed, Mir Hamza.
