Pakistan start their home Test series against Sri Lanka on Monday, 9 November, in Rawalpindi with a very different look. Babar Azam leads a 14-man squad with three uncapped batters, and there is no place for Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan or Abdullah Shafique. Two more fast bowlers are still to be added from the PCB Patron’s XI side that has spent this week playing Sri Lanka in Islamabad.
This is a World Test Championship series, and Pakistan need points badly. According to The Express Tribune, they sit last in the 2025-27 table with two wins and seven defeats from nine Tests. Sri Lanka are seventh.
Who’s in, who’s out
| In the squad | Not in the squad |
|---|---|
| Babar Azam (captain) | Shan Masood (former Test captain) |
| Mohammad Taha (uncapped) | Mohammad Rizwan |
| Mohammad Suleman (uncapped) | Abdullah Shafique |
| Sameer Minhas (uncapped) | Imam-ul-Haq |
| Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Fazal, Azan Awais | Sajid Khan |
| Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Saad Baig (wk) | Noman Ali |
| Mohammad Abbas, Arafat Minhas, Ali Usman, Razaullah |
The PCB gave no official reasons for the omissions. The ICC’s report on the squad points to form in Shafique’s case. He made an unbeaten 160 in Port of Spain, then scored only 84 runs in six innings in England.
Why the new names are there
All three uncapped batters earned it in domestic cricket. The ICC and Geo News both list their President’s Trophy Grade-I numbers:
- Mohammad Taha, 26, left-hander: 730 runs in seven matches, the top run-scorer in the competition.
- Mohammad Suleman: 652 runs in seven matches.
- Sameer Minhas: 405 runs in seven matches in his first first-class season.
The two pacers still to come
The PCB says two fast bowlers from the Patron’s XI will join the Test squad after the three-day practice match against Sri Lanka, which ends today (6 November) at the Islamabad Club. The Patron’s XI pace group includes Shoaib Akhtar Junior, Ubaid Shah, Ali Shabbir, Saqib Khan and Mohammad Salman. No names have been confirmed yet.
Shoaib Akhtar Junior has helped his case. He took three wickets on day two as Sri Lanka reached 121 for 6 in their second innings, a lead of 193, according to The Express Tribune. Sri Lanka, led by Kusal Mendis, had made 223 for 7 declared on day one, with Mendis scoring 66.
Key dates
Practice match: 4 to 6 November, Islamabad Club.
1st Test: 9 to 13 November, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
2nd Test: 17 to 21 November, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Our take
Picking three uncapped batters for a home series is a bold call, but it is the right moment for it. Pakistan are bottom of the WTC table, so the old group was not getting results anyway. Rawalpindi and Lahore are good places to blood young batters. The bigger worry is the bowling. With only Mohammad Abbas as an established seamer, the two Patron’s XI picks could end up playing, not just carrying drinks. And the absence of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali leaves Pakistan light on proven Test spin at home. Sri Lanka’s batting, with Mendis, Pathum Nissanka and Kamindu Mendis, will test that.
For Pakistan’s white-ball road ahead, read our guide to Pakistan at World Cup 2027.
FAQs
Who is Pakistan’s Test captain against Sri Lanka?
Babar Azam.
Why is Shan Masood not playing?
He was left out of the squad. The PCB did not give a public reason.
When does the first Test start?
Monday, 9 November 2026, at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Sources
- ICC: Pakistan bring in fresh batting talent for Sri Lanka Tests
- Geo News: Pakistan announce initial Test squad
- The Express Tribune: PCB Patron’s XI to face Sri Lanka
- The Express Tribune: Bowlers put Sri Lanka in command
- Cricket Winner: Rizwan out, Babar captain
About this story. Written by the T20 Cricinfo desk from the sources listed above. The two extra fast bowlers and the practice match result were not confirmed at the time of writing.
