Pakistan Cricket team: Babar becomes captain, Shaheen Afridi takes leave, 2 more players out of West Indies-England Test series

Babar Azam’s second innings as Test captain will start with a 2-Test series against West Indies. After this, Pakistan also has to play an important three-Test series on the England tour. In such a situation, Babar will have a big challenge to return the team to the path of victory.

Shaheen Afridi’s leave from test team
Pakistan made many major changes in team selection. Many experienced players were shown the door from the team that lost the Test series against Bangladesh 0-2 in May 2026. Fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali and experienced spinner Noman Ali did not get a place in the team this time. Apart from this, middle-order batsman Saud Shakeel is also out of the team.

Pakistan selector Aaqib Javed said that Saud Shakeel has not been selected for the West Indies tour due to fitness reasons. However, he is hopeful that Shakeel can join the team after being fully fit before the England tour.

Mohammad Ali and Jamal got another chance
Some players have also returned in the new team. Fast bowler Mohammad Ali and all-rounder Aamir Jamal have got a chance again. At the same time, three players got a place in the Test team for the first time.

Naseem Shah’s younger brother got the place
Among these, fast bowler Ubaid Shah is the most popular name. Ubaid is the younger brother of Pakistan fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Hunnain Shah. Apart from this, left-arm spinner Ali Usman, who took the most wickets in the 2026-27 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, was also selected in the national team for the first time. Batsman Mohammad Awais Zafar may also get a chance to debut in the Test team.

This is considered a big change in the Pakistan team after continuous poor performance. Now all eyes will be on the captaincy of Babar Azam and the performance of the new players, because the Test series against West Indies and England is considered very important for the team.

Pakistan team for Test in West Indies and England: Babar Azam (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam ul Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket keeper), Mohammad Awais Zafar, Mohammad Ghazi Ghauri, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Aga, Shan Masood, Ubaid Shah.