Pakistan trio get maiden call-ups for Sri Lanka Tests
Pakistan, who had already named a 14-man squad before, have made four additions and released two players for the two-Test series
Batter Muhammad Tayyab Arif and pace duo of Ali Shabbir and Saqib Khan have been handed maiden Test call-ups for Pakistan's upcoming home series against Sri Lanka, starting on November 9 in Rawalpindi. Besides the three, Pakistan have also included fast-bowling all-rounder Aamir Jamal. In West Indies this July, Jamal made a Test return after more than a year
Pakistan had already named a 14-man squad which marked the return of Salman Agha to the side, after being one of the seven players sent home midway through the England tour. Ali Usman, who was also part of that seven and then picked for the Sri Lanka Tests at first, has now been released from the squad. Abdullah Fazal, who was last-Test inclusion in England, had first kept his spot in the 14 players picked but has now been released.
Among the four new additions, Aamir was recently the player of the final in President’s Trophy Grade-I, where he returned figures of 7/32 and scored 55 with the bat. He also captained Lahore Whites in the opening round of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Gold, picking three wickets and scoring 75 and 23.
Tayyab meanwhile, impressed in the Departmental first-class tournament where he led Kingsmen Academy by example: he scored 727 runs in seven matches at an average of 66.09, his tally including three centuries in his maiden season. The 19-year-old pacer Ali picked 22 wickets in eight first class matches.
Saqib played an pivotal role in Karachi Blues' title run in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2025-26, taking 47 wickets in nine matches at an average of 20.60 and best figures of 7/34.
