Lahore: The Pakistan cricket selectors on Tuesday announced a 15-player squad on Tuesday for the first Test against England, set to take place in Multan from 7-11 October.

Following the squad announcement and based on the recommendation of head coach Jason Gillespie, the selected players have been withdrawn from the Champions One-Day Cup playoffs to allow them some rest ahead of the series. The squad will assemble in Multan on Monday, 30 September, with the training camp commencing on 1 October.

Squad (for 1st Test): 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.

Left-arm spinner Noman Ali, who has taken 47 wickets in 15 Tests, has replaced fast bowler Khurram Shahzad, who is injured.

Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali, who were part of the squad for the Bangladesh Tests, remain firmly in the selectors’ plans.

However, due to the selection policy’s emphasis on consistency and continuity, and the belief that 15 players are sufficient for a Test, they have been advised and encouraged to continue representing their teams in the Champions One-Day Cup and the President’s Cup, starting on 3 October, to ensure they stay match-ready through competitive cricket.

Pakistan men’s red-ball head coach, Jason 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.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 15-player squad on Tuesday for the first Test against England, set to take place in Multan from October 7-11.

Following the squad announcement and based on the recommendation of head coach Jason Gillespie, the selected players have been withdrawn from the Champions One-Day Cup playoffs to allow them some rest ahead of the series.

The squad will assemble in Multan on Monday, September 30, with the training camp commencing on October 1.

Squad (for 1st Test):

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.

Left-arm spinner Noman Ali, who has taken 47 wickets in 15 Tests, has replaced fast bowler Khurram Shahzad, who is injured.

Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali, who were part of the squad for the Bangladesh Tests, remain firmly in the selectors’ plans. However, due to the selection policy’s emphasis on consistency and continuity, and the belief that 15 players are sufficient for a Test, they have been advised and encouraged to continue representing their teams in the Champions One-Day Cup and the President’s Cup, starting on 3 October, to ensure they stay match-ready through competitive cricket.

Pakistan men’s red-ball head coach, Jason 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.”

In some heartbreaking news for Inter Miami fans, the Major League Soccer (MLS) club’s Argentine star Lionel Messi has already decided to leave, not only the club but also the country.

According to the Mirror UK, the 37-year-old Argentine football legend has played a crucial role in Inter Miami’s success since he linked up with former footballer and Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham, back in July 2023.

The addition of the eight-time Ballon d’Or award winner proved to be a significant victory for the MLS and reshaped Inter Miami’s record in the league, reversing its prior struggles in the Eastern Conference.

However, it is believed that it may be time for Messi to leave Miami upon his contract’s conclusion in December 2025 with an aims to return to his roots in Argentina.

This means that the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star is left with only one more full season in the MLS.

According to reports from El Nacional, he is said to be eyeing a switch back to Newell’s Old Boys, where Messi spent his formative years, from 1995 to 2000.

Although he expressed a heartfelt desire to return home and play for Newell’s Old Boys in 2016, Messi was slightly unsure of heading back home when he spoke on the matter at a later date. 

Speaking to TyC Sports, he said: “My dream is to play at Newell’s but I don’t know what will happen, and a part of that doubt is due to the way the country is at the moment.

“I have a family and my children come first, and then me, I want them to grow up in a calm place, being able to enjoy life with security. It is very ugly to see the things that happen in Argentina, that you can go out on the street and people want to rob you and that they can kill you.”

Last weekend, Messi joined his Inter Miami teammates on the field after returning from a Copa America final ankle injury and scored twice within 30 minutes against Philadelphia Union.

His latest goals boosted his season stats to an impressive 14 goals and as many assists in the MLS.

Currently, Miami stands only a few weeks away from potentially clinching the Supporter’s Shield. If they do so, it will be Messi’s second trophy with the team, following their Leagues Cup victory last year.

Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) organized a “Connection Camp” on Monday to lay out a roadmap for achieving its strategic objectives.

The camp was attended by PCB Chief Operating Officer (COO) Salman Naseer, white-ball coach Gary Kirsten, red-ball coach Jason Gillespie, and key players including Babar Azam, Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan, and Saim Ayub.

The primary goal of the camp was to improve communication, teamwork, and performance among the national team players.

After the camp, Salman Naseer, along with the national team coaches, addressed the media. Naseer highlighted the importance of holding the camp at this critical time to discuss various issues. “Everyone agrees there’s an urgent need to enhance our performance,” he said, adding that the camp provided an opportunity to brainstorm solutions to the challenges faced by both the team and management.

Gary Kirsten praised the camp as a “brilliant” initiative, stating, “We discussed supporting each other, and I believe we’ve largely achieved the goal of this gathering. There’s a strong commitment from everyone to restore the pride of Pakistan cricket.”

Jason Gillespie echoed Kirsten’s sentiments, stressing the need to strengthen team unity moving forward.