New Delhi: After a string of poor performances for the national side, a newly appointed selection panel consisting of Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, former ICC umpire Aleem Dar, analyst Hassan Cheema, Shan Masood and Jason Gillespie have decided that star Pakistani batsman Babar Azam would not be a part of the 2nd Test against England. According to sports website ESPNcricinfo, the selection panel took the hard call owing to the poor form of Babar in red-ball cricket.
Last 5 test match scores of Babar Azam
- 5 (15)
- 30 (71)
- 11 (18)
- 31 (77)
- 22 (50)
Interestingly, Babar’s last test century came against England way back in 2022 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Since then Babar has not been in the best of his form. The Panel which gave the verdict for the dropping of Babar Azam had a little dilemma whether to drop Babar or keep him for the second test. However, in the end, a majority of the panellists decided that they could not afford another catastrophe that happened in the first test in Multan.
🚨 BABAR AZAM DROPPED. 🚨
– Babar set to be dropped from the 2nd Test against England. (Espncricinfo). pic.twitter.com/gAPsHumcVT
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 13, 2024
Speaking about Babar’s absence, Pakistani skipper Shan Masood remarked-
We want to build a squad mentality. We don’t play a lot of Test cricket. Especially as a batter, it is not easy. You have to give a lot of opportunities, and there is no doubt that Babar Azam is Pakistan’s best batter. You always have to keep in mind that your best batter is just one game away. We will reflect and see the conditions that will be on offer. We will try to put the best team on the side…
Besides Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah have also been dropped from the squad for the 2nd Test against Multan due to poor form.
BABAR AZAM DROPPED.
SHAHEEN AFRIDI DROPPED.
NASEEM SHAH DROPPED.
– Pakistan removes Babar, Shaheen and Naseem for the 2nd Test Vs England. pic.twitter.com/i44pIBVVLk
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 13, 2024
When is the 2nd Test between England and Pakistan?
The England vs Pakistan 2nd Test is scheduled to start on 15th October and end on 19th October at the Multan Cricket Stadium.