Pakistan Squad Announcement: Three Debutants Eye Sri Lanka Tests
The Pakistan national cricket team is set to face Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series beginning Monday, with Babar Azam continuing his leadership duties across a 16-member squad. The roster features a notable return for Amir Jamal and debuts for three promising talents.
The opening Test will be hosted at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on November 9, with the series concluding at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore between November 17 and 21.
Selector committee decisions were heavily influenced by recent domestic performances. Three uncapped players have been elevated to the senior side: all-rounder Muhammad Tayyab, young fast bowler Ali Shabbir, and seamer Saqib Khan. Their emergence followed a convincing warm-up performance where they represented the Presidents Eleven against a visiting side in Islamabad.
The squad changes also see Ali Usman and Abdullah Fakhar omitted from the Test setup. Management pointed to a lack of impact in the three-day preparatory match, notably Usman’s limited five-over stint, as the rationale behind the roster adjustment.
Amir Jamal’s recall is justified by his match-winning all-round contributions at the domestic level. He was awarded Player of the Match in the President’s Trophy Grade One final, delivering a combined effort of 55 runs and 7 for 32 to secure victory for Markhor IT Solutions. He also captained Lahore Whites in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Gold, recording scores of 74 and 23 alongside three wickets.
Muhammad Tayyab has been one of the brightest stars in first-class cricket this season, crossing 727 runs in seven games with three centuries while steering Kingsmen Academy as captain.
The 19-year-old Ali Shabbir has taken 22 first-class wickets in eight games and proved his readiness by claiming three wickets in the recent warm-up fixture. Saqib Khan was instrumental in Karachi Blues’ 2025-26 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy victory, finishing with 47 wickets at an average of 20.60 across nine matches, including a best haul of 34 for 7.
The finalized squad comprises Babar Azam (captain), Amir Jamal, Ali Shabbir, Arif Yamin, Azhar Ali, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ghazanfar (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Sulaiman, Mohammad Taha, Muhammad Tayyab Arif, Raheel, Saad Bawa (wicketkeeper), Salman Ali Agha, Samiullah, Saqib Khan, and Saud Shakeel.