Pakistan axe Shan Masood from Sri Lanka Test squad as Agha, Rizwan return

Former skipper Salman Agha has returned to Pakistan’s Test cricket squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka but there was still no place for Mohammad Rizwan following the team’s disastrous tour of England.

Agha and Rizwan were among seven players expelled from the Test tour of England in August, a series the visitors lost 3-0.

In Pakistan’s first squad since, five players remain out of favour including wicketkeeper-batsman Rizwan, who is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the country’s cyber-crime agency.

Earlier this week the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) allowed Rizwan to feature in a domestic match.

Agha was left out of this month’s T20 series against Sri Lanka but the 32-year-old impressed in the ongoing one-day international (ODI) series at home, scoring a century against Sri Lanka last Sunday.

Along with Agha, left-arm spinner Ali Usman was also recalled after being sent home from the England tour before the third and final Test.

Babar Azam will continue to lead the side in the two Tests against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi (November 9-13) and Lahore (November 17-21).

The 14-member squad includes a trio of uncapped batters in Mohammad Taha, Sameer Minhas and Mohammad Suleman, who have done well at domestic level.

The two-match series is part of the World Test Championship with Pakistan ninth and last and Sri Lanka seventh.

Squad: Babar Azam (capt), Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Ghazi Ghori, Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Taha, Razaullah, Saad Baig, Salman Agha, Sameer Minhas, Saud Shakeel