Pakistan has announced on Monday their playing XI for the second Test against England, scheduled to begin on Tuesday. Kamran Ghulam is set to make his debut, following Babar Azam's exclusion from the series.
In addition, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Zahid Mehmood will feature in the lineup, while Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Sarfaraz Ahmed have been rested. Abrar Ahmed is unavailable due to illness.
This announcement follows the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) unveiling of a 16-member squad, where Babar, Shaheen, Naseem, and Sarfaraz were rested to give them time to recover. Sarfaraz was also officially released by the board.
Pakistan's defeat in the first Test, by an innings and 47 runs, prompted the changes. Defending its decision to rest key players, the PCB stated that the move was aimed at allowing them to return refreshed. A spokesperson emphasized that the selection process for the second Test was challenging, balancing players' form, the need to bounce back, and the demanding international schedule ahead.
The second Test will take place at the Multan Cricket Stadium, as did the first match. The third and final Test will begin at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 24. This three-match series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25.
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