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Babar Azam has failed to score a half-century in his last 18 Test innings © AFP
Pakistan's shocking defeat to England by an inning and 47 runs in the first Multan Test resulted in an overhaul in the hosts' game plan for the second Test at the same venue, which begins on October 15.
In what is the biggest development from the personnel point of view, the rejigged selection committee, domestic team mentors, and the team management have reached a consensus to drop Babar Azam following a string of low scores. The former Pakistan captain's last notable performance in Tests was in December 2022 when he scored 161 against New Zealand in Karachi. Since then, Azam has not scored a half-century in 18 innings and his highest score in this window has been 41 against Australia in Melbourne.
Azam has remained under intense scrutiny over the last several months because of poor scores and Pakistan's abysmal group-stage exit from the T20 World Cup. It boiled down to Azam resigning from captaincy for the second time in a year earlier in the month.
Cricbuzz understands that the psychological pressure on Azam was widely discussed during the selection committee's and wider meetings over the last two days and it was agreed that the time away from the team would benefit him in overcoming the current slump in form.
It has also been decided to prepare a turning wicket for the second Multan Test after England annihilated Pakistan bowlers on their way to a record 823 for seven as Harry Brook and Joe Root scored triple and double centuries on a benign surface that remained unresponsive until the last session of day four.
The second Test will be played on the same pitch that was used for the first Test and, on Sunday, the groundstaff used industrial fans from both ends to dry the surface after briefly watering it.
Defending the team management's decision to roll out a flat wicket, skipper Shan Masood, after his team's loss, revealed he expected the cracks to open in the searing Multan heat by the end of the second day. That, however, never happened as an even covering of grass held the pitch together.
Cricbuzz understands that Tony Hemming, the head curator, and his team have been instructed to prepare a surface on which the ball turns right from day one as Pakistan have decided to go spin-heavy in the second Test.
Sajid Khan, who last played in January in Sydney, is set to be recalled to the squad, which Pakistan are expected to announce later in the day. Abrar Ahmed is unlikely to recover in time for the second Test as he remains hospitalised in Multan.
Pakistan's shocking defeat to England by an inning and 47 runs in the first Multan Test resulted in an overhaul in the hosts' game plan for the second Test at the same venue, which begins on October 15.
In what is the biggest development from the personnel point of view, the rejigged selection committee, domestic team mentors, and the team management have reached a consensus to drop Babar Azam following a string of low scores. The former Pakistan captain's last notable performance in Tests was in December 2022 when he scored 161 against New Zealand in Karachi. Since then, Azam has not scored a half-century in 18 innings and his highest score in this window has been 41 against Australia in Melbourne.
Azam has remained under intense scrutiny over the last several months because of poor scores and Pakistan's abysmal group-stage exit from the T20 World Cup. It boiled down to Azam resigning from captaincy for the second time in a year earlier in the month.
Cricbuzz understands that the psychological pressure on Azam was widely discussed during the selection committee's and wider meetings over the last two days and it was agreed that the time away from the team would benefit him in overcoming the current slump in form.
It has also been decided to prepare a turning wicket for the second Multan Test after England annihilated Pakistan bowlers on their way to a record 823 for seven as Harry Brook and Joe Root scored triple and double centuries on a benign surface that remained unresponsive until the last session of day four.
The second Test will be played on the same pitch that was used for the first Test and, on Sunday, the groundstaff used industrial fans from both ends to dry the surface after briefly watering it.
Defending the team management's decision to roll out a flat wicket, skipper Shan Masood, after his team's loss, revealed he expected the cracks to open in the searing Multan heat by the end of the second day. That, however, never happened as an even covering of grass held the pitch together.
Cricbuzz understands that Tony Hemming, the head curator, and his team have been instructed to prepare a surface on which the ball turns right from day one as Pakistan have decided to go spin-heavy in the second Test.
Sajid Khan, who last played in January in Sydney, is set to be recalled to the squad, which Pakistan are expected to announce later in the day. Abrar Ahmed is unlikely to recover in time for the second Test as he remains hospitalised in Multan.