Pakistan Test Squad vs West Indies: Key Spinners Return For Home Series Among Seven Changes

Key spinners return among seven changes made from the side that toured South Africa as Pakistan announced their 15-member squad for the for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship matches against the West Indies.

To strengthen the spin department for the home Tests, off-spinner Sajid Khan, who excelled in the home series against England last year, has been recalled along with mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed. The duo will parnter left-arm spinner Noman Ali.

Major changes have been made to the squad that lost 2-0 in South Africa last month due to injuries and workload management. Shan Masood will continue to lead the side that also includes Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Kamran Ghulam among others.

Openers Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Huraira have been recalled to the squad as replacements for Saim Ayub, who was injured during the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town, and for an out-of-form Abdullah Shafique.

To manage player workload, the pace quartet of Aamir Jamal, Mohammad Abbas, Mir Hamza and Naseem Shah has been rested. In their place, uncapped Kashif Ali has been included in the squad, and Mohammad Ali has been recalled, while Khurram Shahzad has been retained for the series.

Meanwhile, Rohail Nazir has been brought in as a backup wicketkeeper after Haseebullah sustained a split in his right-hand webbing during the Cape Town Test. However, Mohammad Rizwan is expected to retain the gloves as the number one choice. Here is a look at Pakistan squad for Test series vs West Indies:

Pakistan Test Squad vs West Indies

Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan and Salman Ali Agha.

Pakistan will face the West Indies in two Tests which is part of the World Test Championship, with both the matches scheduled to be played at the Multan Cricket Ground in Multan, starting on January 17th and January 25th, respectively.