Noman Ali returns as Pakistan name squad for Multan Test against England

37-year-old Noman Ali returns for the first time since July 2023 as Pakistan name squad for the first Test against England. On September 24, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that the left-arm spinner only returned following an injury to Khurram Shahzad. 

The left-arm spinner has played 15 Tests before, taking 47 wickets in total and averaging 33.53 with the ball. Unlike the Bangladesh series, PCB have named just a 15-member squad, with the duo of Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali left out. However, there is a place for the returning Aamir Jamal, who was injured during the Bangladesh series.

"Due to the selection policy's emphasis on consistency and continuity and the belief that 15 players are sufficient for a Test, they [Kamran and Mohammad] have been advised and encouraged to continue representing their teams in the Champions One-Day Cup and the President's Cup,” read PCB’s press release. 

"With a busy domestic and international cricket schedule, it makes sense to give our players some much-needed rest ahead of the Test series against England," Gillespie said. "We are very much looking forward to the series against England here in Pakistan and cannot wait for it to begin. We are excited about playing in front of our wonderful supporters."

Pakistan are set to kick off the three-match Test series against England on October 7 in Multan. 

Squad: Shan Masood (C), Saud Shakeel (VC), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (WK), Shaheen Shah Afridi

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