LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday announced the national team squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against the West Indies, scheduled to take place later this month in Multan.
The squad features seven changes from the 15-member Test team that recently toured South Africa and suffered a 2-0 whitewash defeat.
The retained players include Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan, Noman Ali and Salman Ali Agha.
To strengthen the spin department, off-spinner Sajid Khan and mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed have been recalled to join left-arm spinner Noman Ali.
Additionally, openers Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Huraira have returned to the squad, replacing the injured Saim Ayub and the out-of-form Abdullah Shafique.
The left-handed batter returns to the Test squad after last playing a red-ball match against Australia in 2023.
As part of workload management, the pace quartet comprising Aamir Jamal, Mohammad Abbas, Mir Hamza and Naseem Shah has been rested.
In their absence, the selectors have retained Khurram Shahzad, recalled Mohammad Ali and included the uncapped Kashif Ali.
In place of wicketkeeper-batter Haseebullah, who sustained a split in the webbing of his right hand during the Cape Town Test, former Pakistan U19 and Shaheens captain Rohail Nazir has been added to the squad.
The much-anticipated series will kick off with the first Test in Multan on January 17, followed by the second Test starting on January 25.
This series marks a significant milestone for Pakistan cricket, as it will be the first Test series hosted in Pakistan against the West Indies since their 2006 tour.
While this will be Pakistan's first longer-format series against the West Indies in nearly two decades, the visitors have toured Pakistan three times since 2018 for limited-overs matches.
The rivalry between Pakistan and the West Indies spans 54 Test matches, with Pakistan leading the head-to-head record with 21 wins, compared to the West Indies' 18 victories. Fifteen matches have ended in draws.
The most recent Test series between the two nations took place in the West Indies in 2021, which concluded in a 1-1 draw.
Pakistan squad for the West Indies Tests:
Shan Masood (C), Saud Shakeel (VC), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (WK), Sajid Khan, and Salman Ali Agha.
Two-Match Test series schedule:
