Babar Azam to be dropped for second Test against England: Reports

Babar Azam is reportedly in line to be dropped for the first time from Pakistan's first XI ahead of the team’s second Test against England, starting October 15th in Multan. 

The development has come about after the Pakistan men’s senior selection committee met for the second time after the innings defeat in the first Test against England.

Having not scored even a fifty in the longest format since December 2022, it was advised by the selection committee to drop Babar, ESPNcricinfo reported. 

Former Pakistan internationals Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, former umpire Aleem Dar, data analyst Hassan Cheema, who are the members of the seven-member selection committee, met PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi as well as five-mentors Shoaib Malik, Waqar Younis, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Misbah-Ul-Haq and Saqlain Mushtaq to decide upon the future of the team.

Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood had backed Babar as the team’s best batter and talked about giving the long rope to him but the selection committee seem to have other thoughts.

Quaid-E-Azam Trophy, Pakistan’s premier first-class tournament is scheduled to begin from October 20, but it is not clear as to whether Babar would take part in it.

Babar aside, Abrar Ahmed, who was hospitalised mid-way through the first Test, is expected to miss the second Test having still not recovered fully. It is believed that either Noman Ali or Sajid Khan could come into the starting XI in place of the 26-year-old. 

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