Pakistan have revised their 16-member Test squad for the two-match series against Sri Lanka, adding four players and releasing two. Aamir Jamal returns, while Ali Shabbir, Muhammad Tayyab Arif and Saqib Khan earn maiden call-ups. The first Test begins on November 9 in Rawalpindi, with domestic numbers driving the selections.
Squad Changes at a Glance
The Pakistan Cricket Board has strengthened the group with four additions following recent domestic performances. Three of the four have no international caps.
Abdullah Fazal and Ali Usman have been released from the squad. No official reason has been given for either decision.
| Player | Change | International Status |
|---|
| Aamir Jamal | Added | Experienced (9 Tests) |
| Ali Shabbir | Added | Uncapped |
| Muhammad Tayyab Arif | Added | Uncapped |
| Saqib Khan | Added | Uncapped |
| Abdullah Fazal | Released | Not specified |
| Ali Usman | Released | Not specified |
Patron's XI Link
Tayyab, Ali and Saqib all featured in the Patron's XI fixture against Sri Lanka at the Islamabad Club. The match was played from November 4 to 6.
Aamir Jamal: The Experienced Return
Aamir has played nine Tests, three ODIs and six T20Is for Pakistan, a total of 18 international appearances. His recent form covers both skills of a pace-bowling all-rounder.
In the President's Trophy Grade-I final, he took seven wickets for 32 and scored 55 runs. That all-round effort helped Markhor IT Solutions win the title.
| Competition | Bowling | Batting |
|---|
| President's Trophy Grade-I final | 7 wickets for 32 | 55 runs |
| Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Gold (Round 1, Lahore Whites) | 3 wickets | 74 and 23 |
Reading the Numbers
Aamir scored 97 runs across two innings in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Gold opener, an average of 48.5 for that match. He also captained Lahore Whites in that game, adding leadership experience to his profile.
The Three Uncapped Selections
The new call-ups are backed by sizeable domestic returns. Each comes from a different role: one batter and two fast bowlers.
| Player | Role | Matches | Key Output | Average |
|---|
| Muhammad Tayyab Arif | Right-handed batter | 7 | 727 runs | 66.09 |
| Ali Shabbir | Fast bowler (age 19) | 8 | 22 wickets | Not reported |
| Saqib Khan | Fast bowler | 9 | 47 wickets | 20.60 |
Tayyab Arif: Volume and Consistency
Tayyab led Kingsmen Academy in the Departmental first-class tournament. His 727 runs in seven matches works out to roughly 104 runs per match. An average of 66.09 implies about 11 dismissals over that period.
Saqib Khan: Wicket-Taking Output
Saqib took 47 wickets in nine matches for Karachi Blues in the 2025-26 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, about 5.2 wickets per match. His average of 20.60 and best figures of seven for 34 point to both penetration and control.
Ali Shabbir: Early Promise
At 19, Ali has taken 22 wickets in eight first-class matches, roughly 2.75 per game. His sample is smaller than Saqib's, which makes him the youngest and least-proven of the three.
Updated 16-Member Squad
Babar Azam captains the side. Two wicketkeepers, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori and Saad Baig, are included.
| Category | Players |
|---|
| Captain | Babar Azam |
| Wicketkeepers | Mohammad Ghazi Ghori, Saad Baig |
| Fast bowlers and all-rounders | Aamir Jamal, Ali Shabbir, Mohammad Abbas, Saqib Khan, Razaullah |
| Remaining squad members | Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Taha, Muhammad Tayyab Arif, Salman Ali Agha, Sameer Minhas, Saud Shakeel |
What the Selections Suggest
All four additions are backed by recent domestic production. The inclusion of three uncapped players alongside one experienced all-rounder shows a clear preference for current form. How many of them reach the playing XI will become clear when the first Test begins on November 9 in Rawalpindi.