Babar Azam, ace Pakistan batter and former captain is set to be the biggest casualty as the Shan Masood-led side makes significant changes to their squad for the second Test against England. This match will be played in Multan as well from October 15 onwards.
Pakistan imploded in the first Test as after scoring 556 runs after choosing to bat first in Multan, they conceded 823/7d with Joe Root making 262 and Harry Brook smashing 317. They added 454 runs together. Pakistan trailing by 267 runs, only managed 220 runs in their second do and lost by an innings and 47 runs.
Pakistan became the first Test side in history to lose a Test by an innings after scoring 550 plus runs in their first innings.
ESPNcricinfo has gathered that Babar's removal was suggested by the newly created selection committee, which convened in Lahore within hours of the first Test loss on Friday. They met for the second time on Saturday in Multan, with chairman Mohsin Naqvi and the five mentors chosen by the PCB on three-year contracts.
Despite the setback, Pakistan captain Shan Masood publicly supported Babar, calling him "Pakistan's best batter" and repeating his request for greater playing time. However, it is understood that the selection panel decided Babar would benefit from time away from the national team, as runs remain elusive; he has not made a Test half-century since December 2022.
The newly formed selection panel consists of Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, former ICC umpire Aleem Dar, commentator Hassan Cheema, and the captain and head coach of the format for which the squad is being selected. However, it is understood that neither Masood nor Gillespie attended the selection committee meeting on Friday.
Selectors went to Multan on Saturday to meet with the captain, coach, and PCB curator Tony Hemming. At the Saturday meeting, it was believed that some of the mentors were in favor of keeping Babar in the squad, but the majority of opinion was in favor of dismissing him.
Babar scored 35 runs across two innings versus England and has gone 18 innings without a fifty in Test cricket. He averages below 21 in nine Tests.
Babar's omission will send shockwaves across Pakistani cricket and its fans. Despite his recent problems, he is by far the most well-known name in Pakistan cricket, having amassed a massive, devoted individual audience independent from the Pakistan squad as a whole.
(ESPNCricinfo inputs)
