Zahid Mehmood added to first Test squad

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Thursday made an adjustment to its Test squad for the upcoming series. Leg-spinner Zahid Mehmood has been added as the 16th player to participate in the pre-test camp in Multan. However, the PCB confirmed that the squad will be reduced to 15 members for the first Test, scheduled to begin on October 7.

In a notable move, Kamran Ghulam and Muhammad Ali have been designated as reserves but will continue to play in domestic matches. A PCB spokesperson explained, “All three players are part of the Pakistan Test team set-up, but 15 players for the home Test is sufficient for cricketing and logistical reasons.

“The decision to keep Ghulam and Ali active in domestic cricket rather than having them sit on the sidelines would be more beneficial for player development. Kamran Ghulam and Muhammad Ali would benefit more from playing domestic cricket than sitting in the dugout,” the spokesperson added.