Pakistan is expected to leave out star batsman and ex-skipper Babar Azam from the playing XI for the second Test against England, which starts on Tuesday (October 15) in Multan. Babar, 29, hasn’t been in form as he hasn’t been able to score a fifty in his last 18 innings. In the first Test against Ollie Pope’s team, he scored 30 and 5 for Shan Masood’s side.
ESPN Cricinfo reported on Sunday that “Babar’s dropping was recommended by the newly-formed selection committee, which met in Lahore following Pakistan’s innings defeat to Australia in the first Test at Multan on Friday. They met for a second day on Saturday in Multan in a session that also 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.”
The new selection panel comprises Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, former ICC umpire Aleem Dar, analyst Hassan Cheema, the captain, and head coach of the format for which the squad is being picked.
Some of the coaches had favored Babar while a majority of the coaches were in favor of his exclusion, said sources. The selectors held meetings with Shan Masood and Jason Gillespie on Saturday.
Babar could be one of the few changes Pakistan might make in the second Test. Spinner Abrar Ahmed does not seem to be 100 percent fit, and there is every possibility that he will be replaced by either Noman Ali or Sajid Khan. Pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi too, who has been out of form for a long time, is likely to be dropped; he was not selected for the second Test against Bangladesh in August-September.
Pakistan is currently at the bottom of the WTC 2023-25 points table and cannot afford to lose this second Test against England for two reasons. It will lead to a series defeat as well as knock them off the final.
