Pakistan drop Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman for Sri Lanka Tests
What's the story
Pakistan have made major changes to their Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka. The team management has dropped opener Abdullah Fazal and spinner Ali Usman. They have been replaced by uncapped players Ali Shabbir and Saqib Khan, who recently played in a warm-up match against Sri Lanka. Seam bowling all-rounder Aamer Jamal and 20-year-old batter Tayyab Arif have also been added to the squad.
Player updates
Fazal and Usman dropped
Fazal made his debut against Bangladesh earlier this year after a stellar performance in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final last year.
He was part of Pakistan's tours to the West Indies and England but was ruled out due to a lower back injury.
Usman, on the other hand, had been given a limited role by head coach Mike Hesson ahead of the third Test against England in September.
Game plan
Only 1 spinner in the squad
The changes in the squad indicate Pakistan's strategy for the Rawalpindi Test, which is unlike pitches prepared for Test cricket in Pakistan over the last couple of years.
The 16-man squad has just one player whose primary skill is spin bowling - Arafat Minhas.
Sajid Khan and Noman Ali, who have been regulars on home Test pitches during this period, were not included in the final squad.
WTC standings
WTC standings and schedule
Pakistan are placed at the bottom of the World Test Championship table with a points percentage of 4.63, nearly six times lower than second-from-bottom West Indies, as per Cricinfo.
The team has suffered from over rate penalties and seven defeats in nine matches.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka are placed 7th.
The first Test against Sri Lanka will be played in Rawalpindi on November 9, followed by the second match in Lahore on November 17.