Pakistan’s experienced wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and all-rounder Salman Ali Agha likely to retain their places for the second Test against England.
According to the latest reports, Rizwan, 34, who has played 46 Tests, and Agha, 32, who has appeared in 28 Tests, are expected to be included in Pakistan’s playing XI.
Captain Babar Azam indicated in his press conference that Agha is his first choice to partner left-arm spinner Ali Usman as the second spin option.
Following Pakistan’s innings-and-103-run defeat at the hands of England in the Leeds Test, the team’s senior players have come under severe criticism.
Earlier, there had been speculation that the team management might hand a Test debut to Ghazi Ghori in place of experienced wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan for the Lord’s Test.
There were also reports that Agha, who led Pakistan in the absence of Babar Azam in Leeds, could be left out of the team for the second Test.
With Test captain Babar Azam returning to the side after missing one match, 30-year-old Saud Shakeel is likely to be dropped. Shakeel scored only five and 14 in the Leeds Test.
Considering the success of left-arm spinner Ali Usman, who returned impressive figures of 5 for 95 in Leeds, there had been strong speculation that Pakistan would bring another spinner – Sajid Khan of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – as the second spinner at Lord’s. Sajid has taken 77 wickets in 16 Tests at an average of 28.81.
The other expected change, following Babar’s return, could see 26-year-old fast bowler Ubaid Shah, who made his Test debut against the West Indies in Port of Spain, Trinidad, replace Khurram Shahzad.
