Pakistan revise Test squad for Sri Lanka series, again omit Mohammad Rizwan
On November 7, 2026, Pakistan revised their squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, once more leaving out wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and also overlooking Imam-ul-Haq.
The selectors made four additions to the initial 14-member group after the conclusion of the three-day warm-up match against the visitors, a move that drew attention because Rizwan had produced a recent strong response in domestic cricket. Rizwan and Imam were among seven players released from Pakistan’s Test squad midway through the England tour in August, a list that also included Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad. Salman Ali Agha and Aamir Jamal have since returned to the national setup, while Rizwan and Imam have not been recalled.
Rizwan’s latest domestic innings came for Peshawar Region Blues against Faisalabad Region in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, where he finished unbeaten on 200 from 252 balls. In that innings he struck 35 fours and one six. The 200 was his second first-class double century, his previous 224 having been scored in 2014.
Imam-ul-Haq sustained a low-grade strain to his left calf muscle while fielding on the opening day of the Lord’s Test, an injury that led to his release from the touring party and his absence from the revised Sri Lanka squad. He has not been reselected for the two-Test series. The mid-tour releases and subsequent selective recalls have left Rizwan and Imam outside the current Test group.
Pakistan added pace-bowling all-rounder Aamir Jamal, rookie pacer Ali Shabbir, batter Muhammad Tayyab Arif and fast bowler Saqib Khan to the squad. Aamir Jamal has previously represented Pakistan in nine Tests, three ODIs and six T20Is, and was named Player of the Final in the President’s Trophy Grade-I after taking seven for 32 and scoring 55 runs.
Muhammad Tayyab Arif scored 727 runs in seven matches in the Departmental first-class tournament at an average of 66.09, including three centuries in his maiden season while leading Kingsmen Academy. Nineteen-year-old Ali Shabbir has played eight first-class matches, claimed 22 wickets and took three wickets against Sri Lanka in the warm-up fixture. Saqib Khan finished the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2025-26 with 47 wickets in nine matches at an average of 20.60, with best figures of seven for 34.
The four additions bring Pakistan’s squad to 16 players. The 16-player squad named reads: Babar Azam (captain), Aamir Jamal, Ali Shabbir, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Taha, Muhammad Tayyab Arif, Razaullah, Saad Baig (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Sameer Minhas, Saqib Khan and Saud Shakeel.
Abdullah Fazal and left-arm spinner Ali Usman were released from the original group following the warm-up match, and the revised 16-player squad will now contest the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
