• Pakistan Cricket Board Announces Zahid Mahmood’s Inclusion in Test Squad.
• The final squad will be reduced to 15 players before the first Test, scheduled for October 7.
• Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali to continue playing domestic matches to stay match-ready.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood will join the national squad as the 16th player ahead of the first Test in the upcoming three-match series against England. However, the final squad will be trimmed to 15 players before the first Test, which is scheduled to start on October 7 in Multan.

Mahmood, who has previously played two Tests, both against England, will participate in the pre-test training camp. The PCB also confirmed that “Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali will remain on reserve but will continue playing domestic matches to stay match-ready,”

The PCB explained in a statement, “All three players are part of the Pakistan Test team setup, but 15 players are sufficient for the home Test series due to cricketing and logistical reasons,” The board further emphasized that it would be more beneficial for Ghulam and Ali to stay in form by playing domestic cricket rather than being inactive in the dugout during the series.

The Test squad, confirmed earlier this week, will gather in Multan on September 30, with training set to begin on October 1. The players selected for the Test series have been withdrawn from the Champions One-Day Cup playoffs to ensure they get adequate rest ahead of the series.

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.

Pakistan men’s red-ball head coach Gillespie said: “With a busy domestic and international cricket schedule, it makes sense to give our players some much-needed rest ahead of the Test series against England.”

“We are very much looking forward to the series against England here in Pakistan and cannot wait for it to begin. We are excited about playing in front of our wonderful supporters,” he added.

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