Spinners Zahid Mahmood and Noman Ali have been released from the Pakistan test squad in the middle of the ongoing first test on England’s tour of Pakistan 2024 and the statement was confirmed by the team manager.
Mahmood who had been added to the squad a day before the test, has made only two test appearances during England’s tour of Pakistan in 2022. He had taken 12 wickets across four innings in those matches.
On the other hand, Noman Ali had been a regular fixture in the Pakistan side until last year. However, he had to return home from Australia before the start of the test tour due to appendicitis.
He was ruled out of the Pakistan squad which played in August and September. Pakistan made a notable change by replacing the injured Khurram Shahzad with Ali for the 15-member squad.
This strategy aims to enhance the development of individuals and performance. This decision leaves Pakistan with only three reserve players: Mohammad Huraira, Sarfaraz Khan and Mir Hamza.
Batting first, Pakistan started their innings where Saim Ayub was sent out for four runs while Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique smashed centuries putting the hosts in a dominant position on Day 01.
Pakistan continued their inning to 233 for 1 in the wicketless and the duo extended their second wicket partnership to 225 as the English bowlers struggled to break through the defences.
Abdullah Shafique scored 102 while Shan Masood smashed 151 runs before losing their wickets. Shafique who struggled during the test series against Bangladesh, smashed his half-century in 77 balls.
Pakistan had been longing for their first test win at home for more than three years after beating South Africa in 2021. Masood who had lost all five test matches as a captain said that the team is hurt with consecutive losses.
With Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel on the crease, Pakistan went past the 300-run mark at Multan Cricket Stadium.
