Multan: Pakistan has announced its 15-member squad for the upcoming first Test against England, which includes the return of 37-year-old spinner Noman Ali. The match, set to start on October 7 in Multan, marks the beginning of the ICC World Test Championship series between the two teams.

According to International Cricket Council, Noman Ali, who last appeared in a Test match in 2023, has been selected to replace the injured fast bowler Khurram Shahzad. Ali brings experience to the team with a record of 47 wickets in 15 Test matches at an average of 33.53. His last Test performance included a career-best 7 for 70 against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

The selection committee has made a few other adjustments, omitting Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali, who were part of the squad for the Bangladesh Tests but will not feature in the upcoming series. The head coach, Jason Gillespie, emphasized the importance of rest for the players amid a busy cricket schedule, both domestically and internationally.

The squad, led by Shan Masood, also welcomes back Aamer Jamal, who is fit for the Test after missing out against Bangladesh due to injury. Pakistan, currently eighth in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 standings, faces significant pressure to perform well, having not won a home Test since February 2021.

The complete squad includes Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), and other key players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, aiming to secure a much-needed victory at home after a series of losses, including a 3-0 defeat to England in 2022.