Pakistan’s Test selections raise more questions than answers

Latest BlogsSportsPakistan’s Test selections raise more questions than answersBy Huzaifa Gaba-Apr 20, 2026The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday announced a 16-member Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against Bangladesh, with four uncapped players included as part of what appears to be a continued push towards rebuilding the red-ball setup. But beneath that routine selection cycle lies a deeper issue that continues to define Pakistan’s red-ball structure, lack of consistency in player development and long-term planning. The series, part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle, will be played from May 8 to 20, with the first Test scheduled at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka and the second at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Shan Masood will continue to lead the side, while Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais and Muhammad Ghazi Ghori have earned maiden call-ups to the Test squad. On paper, this looks like healthy regeneration. In practice, however, it adds to a growing concern: Pakistan keeps rotating through uncapped players without giving them time to settle at the highest level. No continuity in the selection strategy In the previous home Test series against South Africa in October 2025, Pakistan had also included three uncapped players, Asif Afridi, Rohail Nazir, and Faisal Akram, in the squad. Out of those three, only left-arm spinner Afridi made his debut, picking up six wickets in his lone Test appearance, while the other two were never handed a cap before being dropped from the current squad. These selections raise an important question: what was the point of their inclusion? The 39-year-old, Asif Afridi, with over 250 first-class wickets at an average close to 24, is a proven domestic performer, particularly in spin-friendly conditions like Bangladesh; however, he has been dropped after a solitary Test. Similarly, left-arm wrist spinner Faisal Akram, who has 60 wickets in 15 first-class matches, is also out des...