The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced two key changes to the Pakistan Test squad for the ongoing two-match Test series against the West Indies and the upcoming three-match Test tour of England after opener Abdullah Fazal was ruled out with a back injury.
Left-handed batter Abdullah Fazal has been sidelined after suffering a lower-back injury during a training session on the eve of the first Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.
Following an MRI scan, medical staff advised the 23-year-old opener to begin rehabilitation, ruling him out of the remainder of the West Indies series as well as Pakistan’s three-Test tour of England.
To cover Fazal’s absence, the PCB has included Abdullah Shafique in the Pakistan Test squad. The right-handed batter returns to strengthen Pakistan’s top-order batting options ahead of a crucial stretch in the ICC World Test Championship.
Middle-order batter Saud Shakeel has also been recalled to bolster the batting lineup for both the ongoing Caribbean tour and the England series.
The selection committee believes the additions will provide greater experience and stability as Pakistan prepares for five important Test matches.
Pakistan are currently competing in the first Test of a two-match series against the West Indies at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.
After completing the Caribbean assignment, the national side will travel to England for a three-match Test series scheduled from August 19 to September 13.
All five matches across both tours are part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27, making every result crucial for Pakistan’s campaign.
Pakistan Test Squad
Pakistan’s updated Test squad includes:
- Babar Azam (captain)
- Aamir Jamal
- Abdullah Shafique
- Ali Usman
- Azan Awais
- Imam-ul-Haq
- Khurram Shahzad
- Mohammad Abbas
- Mohammad Ali
- Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper)
- Mohammad Awais Zafar
- Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper)
- Sajid Khan
- Salman Ali Agha
- Saud Shakeel
- Shan Masood
- Ubaid Shah
The PCB will continue monitoring Abdullah Fazal’s recovery before determining his availability for future international assignments.
