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PAK vs WI: Major change in Pakistan squad! Abdullah Shafique and Saud Shakeel added for the West Indies tour
Amidst the ongoing Test series against the West Indies and England, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has added two key players to its squad. Abdullah Shafique and Saud Shakeel have been brought into the team following the withdrawal of injured opening batter Abdullah Fazal.
Abdullah Fazal sustained a back injury during a practice session on the eve of the first Test match against the West Indies in Trinidad. Consequently, he has been ruled out of the West Indies tour and the subsequent tour of England.
Saud Shakeel returns ahead of schedule
Saud Shakeel was initially left out of the squad due to fitness concerns. Although Director of Cricket Aaqib Javed had previously stated that Shakeel could return to the team once fit for the England tour, Fazal's sudden injury has led to Shakeel being added to the squad earlier than expected to bolster Pakistan's middle order.
A big opportunity for Abdullah Shafique to revive his career
Meanwhile, right-handed batter Abdullah Shafique has received an opportunity to return to the Test squad after a long hiatus. He has not played a Test match since October 2025.
Shafique had made a spectacular start to his Test career, scoring 856 runs at an average of over 65 in his first eight Tests. However, his form subsequently declined; in his last 31 innings, he has managed to score only 754 runs at a modest average of 25.13. Given this context, the tour could prove to be an excellent opportunity for Shafique to make a comeback in Test cricket.
Seeking batting depth
Pakistan has fielded a side featuring six specialist batters and all-rounder Aamer Jamal (at number 7) for the first Test, which has commenced at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad. With the inclusion of Saud Shakeel and Abdullah Shafique, Pakistan's batting line-up has now been significantly bolstered for the second Test and the upcoming tour of England.
