Pakistan’s Test squad will depart from Trinidad for England on Friday to begin preparations for the upcoming three-match Test series.
The series gets underway with the opening Test at Headingley in Leeds on August 19, marking the start of a crucial red-ball contest between the two sides.
Earlier, Pakistan defeated the West Indies by eight wickets in the second Test to level the two-match series 1-1. Meanwhile, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a 16-member squad for the first two Tests against Pakistan.
England will be led by experienced batter Joe Root. The 16-member squad includes Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Ollie Robinson, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith, and Josh Tongue.
Sam Curran’s test comeback edges closer
On the other hand, England all-rounder Sam Curran’s chances of returning to Test cricket have received a significant boost. According to reports, Curran was not included in England’s squad for the first two Test matches against Pakistan due to fitness concerns.
England selector Marcus North said that if Curran had been fully fit, he would have been included in the squad. North added that following Ben Stokes’ retirement from Test cricket, England are looking for a balanced all-rounder, and Curran is a leading candidate for the role.
He said Curran played consistently throughout the English summer and delivered strong performances despite managing minor injuries. However, the selectors felt it was best to give him additional time to recover. North expressed confidence that the medical staff would help Curran regain full fitness in the coming weeks, making him available for selection for the third Test, which begins on September 9.
England have already announced their squad for the first two Tests against Pakistan. Team management has reiterated that Curran remains an important part of their long-term plans and could return to the Test side once he is fully fit.
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