Babar went on to play 18 test innings without scoring a half century. Shaheen, Naseem, and Sarfraz are the other 3 to get dropped from the Pakistan squad.
In an unexpected move, Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Sarfaraz Ahmed have been dropped from Pakistan team for the final two Tests against England. A newly assembled selection committee made the changes to Pakistan test team hours after the hosts suffered a humbling defeat by an innings and 47 runs to England in the first Test at Multan. Pakistan is 0-1 down in the three-match Test series against England and is also at the bottom of the current World Test Championship standings.
According to a press release from the PCB, the selectors have decided to rest Babar Azam, Shaheen, Naseem, and Sarfaraz due to their current form and fitness, as well as their upcoming duties in the 2024-25 international cricket season.
Babar Azam had not scored a Test half-century since 2022, and his form had dipped in a year in which he was appointed captain before resigning after Pakistan was eliminated from this year’s T20 World Cup in June. Shaheen, however, has struggled to establish his wicket-taking rhythm in Tests since returning from a knee injury.
We all know that rest is a word unknown in cricket and it’s often used in the context of dropping a player.
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