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PCB revamps Pakistan Test squad following Lord’s Test, releases seven players and coaches
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a major shake-up of the national Test squad following the Lord’s Test against England, releasing seven players and making significant changes to the red-ball coaching staff ahead of the Birmingham Test.
According to the PCB, Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad have been released from the Test squad.
The board has brought in Saim Ayub, Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Imran Junior, Saad Baig, Imran Randhawa and Razaullah as replacements.
The incoming players are expected to join the Pakistan team before the next Test, scheduled to begin on September 9.
Sarfaraz Ahmed, Umar Gul released from coaching roles
The changes have not been restricted to the playing squad, with the PCB also restructuring Pakistan’s red-ball coaching setup.
Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, who was serving as head coach, and former fast bowler Umar Gul, the bowling coach, have been released from their roles.
Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke have subsequently been added to the coaching staff.
The changes represent a significant intervention by the PCB during the England series, affecting both the composition of the squad and the team’s coaching structure.
Pakistan turn to fresh faces
The inclusion of several younger players indicates that selectors are prepared to test new combinations as Pakistan look ahead to the Birmingham encounter.
Saim Ayub is among the more recognisable additions, while Arafat Minhas and Saad Baig are also part of the reshaped squad.
The decision to release established players including Rizwan, Imam and Salman Ali Agha marks a substantial change in Pakistan’s selection strategy for the upcoming Test.
Pakistan squad for Birmingham Test
According to the PCB, Pakistan’s squad for the Birmingham Test comprises Babar Azam, Abdullah Fazal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Imran Randhawa, Imran Junior, Ghazi Ghori, Saad Baig, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah.
The revamped squad combines experienced international players with emerging talent, placing greater responsibility on senior figures such as Babar Azam, Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Abbas.
Major reset during England series
Changing seven players as well as key members of the coaching staff represents a substantial reset for Pakistan’s red-ball setup.
Attention will now turn to how quickly the incoming players and coaches can adjust before the Birmingham Test.
The performance of the revamped squad will also be closely watched as the PCB seeks improved results and greater consistency from Pakistan in Test cricket.
Pakistan chased down a target of 326 runs to win the trophy, beating Sri Lanka by three wickets in a gripping final of the ODI Tri-Series at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
Fakhar Zaman top-scored with a superb 127 for the hosts, and Arafat Minhas produced a thrilling late attack to push Pakistan across the finishing line with nine balls to spare.
Sri Lanka scored 325 for eight in their 50 overs while Pakistan concluded on 331 for seven in 48.3 overs.
The win came in the wake of a spectacular recovery after early failures when Pakistan saw a good partnership through Zaman and Saad Baig before Minhas came to the fore with explosive batting after another middle-order collapse.
Fakhar’s milestone
Zaman blasted 127 off 99 deliveries with the help of 11 fours and six sixes to put Pakistan in a commanding position. His innings also saw him complete 4,000 runs in ODI cricket, another big milestone in his international career.
The world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, said it would restart withdrawals in phases, after it recovered 95% of the $6.3 billion in tokens taken from the site in the world’s greatest digital crime, which the FBI has linked to North Korea.
Binance said the phase will begin between 0600 and 0900 GMT on Sunday and will include bitcoin, ether, BNB, Solana, XRP, dogecoin and other tokens.
Binance tweeted on X late on Saturday that the other 5% of the stolen tokens are less liquid and may take longer to source in the proportions needed.
On Saturday, the FBI blamed the attack on a North Korea state-sponsored squad known as TraderTraitor.
Pyongyang has always denied deploying state-linked cyber teams for espionage, financial theft and profiteering. It did not respond to demands for comment from its Geneva mission and its embassy in China.
Law enforcement saw members of the unit turning stolen assets into the cryptocurrency ethereum, the FBI said in a statement, adding it anticipated “further laundering” of the assets using related technology.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have felicitated the people of Gilgit-Baltistan on the 79th Independence Day, paying tributes to the people who led the struggle against Dogra control and won freedom to the province.
The two leaders, in separate messages on Sunday, remembered the momentous events of 1947 when the people of Gilgit-Baltistan abolished Dogra control, declared independence and later wrote to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah asking accession of the area to Pakistan.
President Zardari appreciated the great contribution of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan to the defence and development of Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, meanwhile, expressed respect to the courage, commitment and sacrifices of the region’s leaders and people for securing freedom.
He reiterated the resolve of the federal government that the Gilgit-Baltistan administration will be fully supported in meeting the economic challenges and implementing the institutional and administrative changes.
Fakhar, Arafat power Pakistan to thrilling ODI Tri-Series Final victory
Binance to resume withdrawals after recovering bulk of $6 billion in stolen funds
President Zardari, PM Shehbaz congratulate Gilgit-Baltistan on 79th Independence Day
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