Pakistan captain Babar Azam is looking forward to a fresh start as his side prepares for the first Test against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi. The two-match series begins on Monday and marks Pakistan’s first outing since their heavy 3-0 defeat in England.
That England tour left deep scars. After the second Test, seven players were sent home. Later, head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were also removed. White-ball coach Mike Hesson has now stepped into the Test setup. Only Salman Agha and Aamer Jamal returned from those seven players. Five of the eleven who played the final Test at Edgbaston have also been dropped. Senior names like Mohammad Rizwan, Shan Masood, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali are missing from the squad.
In their place, several young faces have been given a chance. Batters Mohammad Taha, Saad Baig, Tayyab Arif and Sameer Minhas, along with pacers Saqib Khan and Ali Shabbir, have all earned their first call-ups. Babar Azam said the team had already planned to blood new talent during the England series and that he is ready to fight with these young players.
The captain is also under personal pressure. He has gone 40 Test innings without a century. His last hundred came against New Zealand in Karachi in December 2022. Azam recently played domestic matches and believes more time in the middle will help him regain form. He was reappointed captain in July and remains confident about his own game.
The series is part of the World Test Championship’s fourth cycle. Pakistan sit at the bottom of the table in ninth place while Sri Lanka are seventh. The second Test will be played in Lahore from November 17.
Sri Lanka have also made changes. White-ball skipper Kusal Mendis has taken over the Test captaincy from Dhananjaya de Silva. Mendis said he is excited to lead the side and feels the experienced batting line-up is ready for the challenge.
Both teams arrive with new combinations and something to prove. Pakistan hope the young squad and a home series can bring a much-needed turnaround under Babar Azam.
