By Staff Reporter
LAHORE: The England’s cricket team landed in Pakistan on Wednesday for a three-Test series, as the hosts seek to arrest a slide that has seen them lose eight of their last 10 Tests.
Pakistan, eighth in the World Test Championship standings, recently suffered a 2-0 series loss to Bangladesh.
The first Test match between Pakistan and England will be played at the Multan Cricket Stadium from October 7. The second Test will also be played in Multan from October 15, while the third Test will be played in Rawalpindi from October 24. The three-match series is part of the World Test Championship cycle
England, led by all-rounder Ben Stokes, will resume practice on Oct. 4 after a two-day rest.
Pakistan’s recent lackluster performances in all three formats of the game invited scathing criticism with experts citing subpar pitches, infrastructure, and management issues. The team has not won a Test match at home since February 2021.
The greenshirts have been through a tumultuous year, failing miserably at both the 50-over World Cup in November and the T20 World Cup in June. In the Test format, they lost a series away in Australia and then, most recently, their first series against Bangladesh at home.
The hosts woe deepened ahead of England’s arrival, with batting ace Babar Azam resigning as white-ball captain amid mounting criticism over the team’s poor performances.
On Wednesday, the PCB confirmed batting ace Babar Azam had tendered his resignation as Pakistan men’s white-ball captain on Tuesday evening, and it had been accepted by the Board.
“The national selection committee has been tasked with beginning the process of formulating future white-ball cricket strategies, including recommending a new captain,” the PCB said said in a statement.
“Although the PCB had backed Babar Azam as the white-ball captain, his decision to step down reflects his desire to focus more on making a greater impact as a player.”
“This decision is a testament to his professionalism and commitment to Pakistan cricket. He believes that dedicating himself fully to his batting will enable him to play a more decisive role in the team’s success in the shorter formats.”
“The PCB acknowledges Babar’s contributions as white-ball captain, his ability to prioritize the team’s needs and his unwavering dedication to Pakistan cricket. The PCB will continue to support Babar Azam, recognizing he still has much to offer both as a world-class batter and a senior statesman of the team.”
Pakistan squad: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), and Shaheen Shah Afridi, Zahid Mehmood.
England squad: Ben Stokes (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.
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