Shaheen Afridi Back In Pakistan's Playing XI For 1st Test Against England, Sarfaraz Ignored Again

Star left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who was dropped from Pakistan’s playing XI for the 2nd Test against Bangladesh in August-September, is back in the side for the first Test against England. Pakistan will face England in a three-match Test series, the first match of which is scheduled to take place at Multan Cricket Stadium and will start on Monday (October 7). Apart from Shaheen, pacer Naseem Shah and fast bowling all-rounder Aamir Jamal are also back in the starting XI.

While Naseem was also dropped from playing XI for the 2nd Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, Jamal missed the red-ball series against the Asian rivals due to injury.

The 28-year-old pacer had made his Test debut for Pakistan in Perth against Australia last year and had impressed with his performance in the third Test played at the Sydney Cricket Ground earlier this year. He first scored 82 runs with the bat at SCG and then picked up six wickets in the first inning. However, his effort went in vain as Pakistan lost the match by eight wickets.

Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub will continue to open the innings for the hosts, and captain Shan Masood will come out to bat at No. 3. Former captain Babar Azam, who hasn’t scored a half-century in his last 16 Test innings, will be seen in action at No. 4, followed by vice captain Saud Shakeel at 5. Mohammad Rizwan will be Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter, and Agha Salman is picked as an all-rounder.

Abrar Ahmed will lead the spin attack for the hosts, and again, there was no place for former skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed in the playing XI. Sarfaraz last played a Test match for Pakistan in Perth last year and scored 3, 4 runs.

Earlier on Saturday, England also announced its playing XI in which there was no place for Ben Stokes. The star all-rounder is still recovering from a hamstring tear. In his absence, Ollie Pope will continue to lead England. Zak Crawley and Jack Leach are back in the playing XI after missing the last series against England, and pacer Brydon Carse will make his debut.

Pakistan’s playing XI for the 1st Test against England: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (C), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed.