LAHORE (AM Khan): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled an 18-member Pakistan Shaheens squad for the upcoming tour of England, scheduled from July 17 to August 6, featuring two three-day matches and three 50-over contests. Fixture dates and venues will be announced shortly.
The tour presents a crucial development opportunity for Pakistan’s emerging cricket talent and includes a mix of seasoned campaigners and promising young prospects. Test batter Saud Shakeel, who has represented Pakistan in 19 Tests, will lead the squad. He will be joined by fellow Test-capped players Mir Hamza (7 Tests), Musa Khan (1 Test), and Sajid Khan (12 Tests), providing valuable experience across both formats.
The squad also includes standout performers from the 2024–25 domestic season. Azan Awais (844 runs) and Maaz Sadaqat (646 runs), the two leading run-scorers in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, have been rewarded for their consistency with call-ups. Other key batters include Ali Zaryab, Haider Ali, Mohammad Suleman, Omair Bin Yousuf, and Shamyl Hussain, while Rohail Nazir is set to handle wicketkeeping duties.
The pace bowling unit features Mushtaq Ahmed, who was sensational in the last domestic season with 77 wickets across the Quaid-e-Azam and President’s Trophy tournaments. He will be joined by Shahid Aziz, the FATA-based quick, and Ubaid Shah, adding firepower to the bowling attack.
Spin options are equally well-balanced. Wrist-spinner Faisal Akram, left-arm spinner Mehran Mumtaz, and off-spinning all-rounder Mubasir Khan will join forces with the experienced Sajid Khan to form a versatile spin department suited for both red and white-ball formats. The squad will undergo a preparatory training camp at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre in Karachi before flying to England on July 16.
Lahore Region Cricket Association (LRCA) President Khawaja Nadeem Ahmed congratulated both Ali Zaryab and Ubaid Shah on their selection and extended his best wishes for their continued success.
Left-handed top-order batter Ali Zaryab Asif returns to the Shaheens setup after recovering from an injury sustained during a side match in the home series against the West Indies. A consistent performer in domestic cricket, Zaryab had previously represented Pakistan at the ICC U19 World Cup, where he was also named in the ICC Team of the Tournament, highlighting his rising profile at the international youth level. With solid domestic performances across formats, he is now knocking on the door of national Test selection.
Meanwhile, young pacer Ubaid Shah has also earned a recall to the Shaheens after a series of impressive displays in the domestic circuit. Known for his sharp swing and ability to exploit seaming conditions, Ubaid is eager to test his skills in England and trouble top-order batters with his movement off the pitch.
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