PAK vs WI 2025: Imam-ul-Haq returns as Pakistan name 13-man squad (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday, January 11, revealed a 15-member Pakistan squad which will be locking horns with the West Indies in the upcoming two-match Test series. Both the matches will be played in Multan in the light of other venues still undergoing construction ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025.
Shan Masood will be leading the red-ball side in yet another series. Saud Shakeel will be the deputy-in-charge. Masood has had quite a lean patch as Test skipper. Out of the 10 matches he has led so far, he has lost eight. Winning the series would be a bare minimum for Masood to be even considered for the role in the future.
A total of seven changes have been made from Pakistan’s previous Test series against South Africa. Imam-ul-Haq makes a return to the squad after playing his last Test in December 2023. Muhammad Hurraira, the other top-order batter, has earned a maiden call-up to the Test side. With this, Babar Azam and Shan Masood will be expected to drop down the order.
In the wicketkeeping department is Rohail Nazir, accompanying the seasoned Mohammad Rizwan. There might be a case of the former earning his Test debut in the series, in order to manage Rizwan’s workload and keep him fresh for the Champions Trophy. Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, and Nazir make up a strong middle-order core.
Coming to the bowling unit, the triad of Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, and Abrar Ahmed have been picked. A significant possibility of all the three members featuring in the XI. Kashif Ali has been called up, and will be flanked by Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali.
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Pakistan’s squad for Tests against West Indies:
Imam-ul-Haq, Muhammad Hurraira, Babar Azam, Shan Masood (c), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel (vc), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Kashif Ali, Rohail Nazir (wk), Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, Abrar Ahmed, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali
Pakistan Test squad announced for West Indies series 🚨
First match begins on 17 January in Multan 🏏
Read more ➡️ https://t.co/MNZF4dWjKH#PAKvWI pic.twitter.com/gvgast4Sbj
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 11, 2025