1st Test England Criticism, Pakistan
For the first Test match against England, which is scheduled to begin in Multan on October 7, Pakistan has announced their 15-man team. Notably, 37-year-old spinner Noman Ali has been selected to replace injured pacer Khurram Shahzad.
The left-arm spinner Noman has been named by Pakistan for the opening Test of the three-match series, which begins in Multan on October 7. For Pakistan, he has participated in 15 Test matches and amassed 47 wickets at an average of 33.53. As per the ICC, in his final Test match for Pakistan against Sri Lanka in Colombo, Ali claimed a career-best 7 for 70.
Although they are still in the plans for the future, Ghulam and Muhammad Ali, who were on the Pakistani team for the home Tests against Bangladesh, which Pakistan lost 2-0, have not been included for the first Test.
Head coach Jason Gillespie stated, as cited by the ICC, “It makes sense to give our players some much-needed rest ahead of the Test series against England with a busy domestic and international cricket schedule.”
All-rounder Aamer Jamal is expected to participate in the opening Test despite missing the Bangladesh Tests due to injury. Jamal was not picked in the final playing XI but was named in the squad for the second Test against Bangladesh after being earlier ruled out of the Test series.
Pakistan’s series loss against Bangladesh at home has dropped them to eighth place in the ICC World Test Championship 2023–25 standings.
The team captained by Shan Masood is under pressure going into the first Test against England because they haven’t won a home Test since February 2021. Pakistan has lost all ten of their home Test matches, including a 3-0 series loss to England in 2022.1st
