Mon Oct 14 15:02:07 UTC 2024: ## Pakistan Drops Key Players For Upcoming England Tests
**Karachi:** In a surprising move, Pakistan has dropped several key players including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah from their squad for the upcoming second and third test matches against England. The decision comes as Pakistan looks to recover from a disappointing loss in the first test.
The 16-member squad, led by Shan Masood, also excludes former captain Sarfraz Ahmed who was not part of the first test but was included in the initial squad.
The Pakistan Cricket Board justified the exclusion of these players, stating that they are being rested to provide opportunities to younger players. They also highlighted the need for Pakistan cricket to bounce back from a series of recent defeats in international matches.
The second test is scheduled to begin on October 15th in Multan, while the third test will be played in Rawalpindi starting October 24th. Pakistan needs to win both remaining matches to secure the series victory.
The complete squad for the second and third test matches is:
**Shan Masood (Captain), Saud Shakeel (Vice-Captain), Amir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah (Wicket-keeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Huraira, Muhammad Rizwan (Wicket-keeper), Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, and Zahid Mahmood.**
First Piper 