Pakistan drops Babar, Shaheen, and Naseem for England Tests

Pakistan's cricket team has made significant changes to its squad following a disappointing performance in the first test against England, where they suffered a historic defeat by an innings and 47 runs in Multan. Key players, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah, have been dropped from the squad due to their poor form, with Babar failing to score a half-century in his last 18 test innings. The selection committee, led by Aqib Javed, emphasized the need for players to regain their fitness and confidence, indicating that this break from international cricket is intended to help them return stronger. In response to the team's struggles, uncapped players Haseebullah and Kamran Ghulam have been included in the squad, with Ghulam likely to replace Babar at No. 4 for the upcoming second test. The team is also bringing in spinners Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Zahid Mahmood to better counter England's batting lineup. The decision to rest several key players comes after a year of challenges for Babar, who recently stepped down from the white-ball captaincy to focus on his batting. The upcoming second test will be played on the same pitch where Pakistan faced its historic defeat, raising questions about the team's ability to bounce back. The changes reflect a broader strategy to revitalize the squad and improve performance in the ongoing series against England, as the team seeks to recover from its current 1-0 deficit in the series.