Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reinstated Abara Azam as the Test captain of the national team ahead of two crucial ICC World Test Championship matches against the West Indies and England. According to ICC, Babar will be replaced Shan Masood at the helm and will lead Pakistan in a two-Test series in the Caribbean before captaining the side in the three-Test Tour of England later this summer. Pakistan begin their West Indies campaign on July 25, with the second Test scheduled for early August. They will then travel to England for a three-match series starting on August 19 as they continue their World Test Championship campaign. The PCB has also named four players who were not included in the squads, giving them a chance to earn their first Test caps. Left arm bowler Ali Usman, batsman Muhammad Awais Zafar, fast bowler Ubaid Shah and wicketkeeper Muhammad Ghazi Ghori have all been picked for the upcoming tour. Saud Shakeel he was also included in the England squad, although his participation is still subject to a fitness test before the team departs. Pakistan will join two foreign teams looking to improve their position in the World Test Championship, where they are currently in ninth place. Pakistan Team in West Indies Tests: Babar Azam (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam ul Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shan Masood, Shan Masood. Pakistan Squad for England Test: Babar Azam (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam ul Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Masood Shake, Saud Masood Shake Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies begins with the opening Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba from July 25 to 29, followed by the second Test at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain from August 2 to 6. The England leg of the tour will begin in Leeds from August 19 to 23, before the teams meet at Lord’s from August 27 to 31. The third and final Test will be played in Birmingham from September 9 to 13, with valuable World Test Championship points at stake throughout the series.
