After favoring fast-bowling conditions at the season’s outset, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) seems to have revised its strategy. Previous pitch has utilized for the second Test in Multan, Pakistan planning to add an additional spinner in their playing XI.
Babar Azam’s recent struggles with form have been widely discussed, but Shaheen Afridi has also looked far from his best since his injury in 2023. Since the beginning of this year, he has taken 17 wickets in 11 innings, averaging 45.47 per wicket. His bowling speed has noticeably decreased, along with his effectiveness as a new-ball bowler. Adding to his challenges, this marks the third consecutive series he has started but has been unable to complete due to fitness issues. During the first Test, he was largely ineffective, finishing with figures of 1 for 120 in 26 overs. Reports from ESPNcricinfo indicated that his spot in the team was not guaranteed, leading selectors to ultimately leave him out.
Similarly, Naseem Shah has struggled to replicate the impressive form he displayed in Tests since his debut in 2019. Once regarded as a specialist Test bowler, he did not participate in white-ball internationals until three years later, and now his workload has come under scrutiny. He made his return from a long-term injury in April 2024 after undergoing shoulder surgery following an injury sustained at the 2023 Asia Cup. While his speed has also declined, he was the only Pakistan bowler to exceed 140 kph during the first Test. Although he showed glimpses of his talent, he ended with figures of 2 for 157 in 31 overs, while England declared at a staggering 823 for 7.
The exclusion of both seam bowlers leaves Pakistan’s bowling attack lacking in star quality and new-ball effectiveness. They have opted to add an extra spinner, but the team has also faced challenges in this area, with a limited pool of spin talent emerging from the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. The recalls of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali reflect this struggle as Pakistan seeks a way to take 20 wickets, with Shan Masood attributing the team’s failure in the first Test to their insufficient wicket-taking ability.
In Multan, the second Test will commence on October 15, followed by the third Test in Rawalpindi, which will start on October 24.
Pakistan’s squad for the second and third Tests includes: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, and Zahid Mehmood.
