Pakistan Test Squad 2026
Babar Azam leads a 16-member Pakistan Test squad for the West Indies and England tours. Saud Shakeel is listed subject to fitness. Ubaid Shah is the only uncapped player in the pace group.
The PCB named a 16-member Pakistan Test squad for the West Indies tour starting 25 July 2026 and the England series starting 19 August 2026. Babar Azam returns as Test captain with Saud Shakeel as vice-captain. Chief selector Aqib Javed highlighted pace depth and domestic form as the primary selection criteria, with Ubaid Shah — 72 first-class wickets in 16 matches — the standout uncapped inclusion. Shaheen Shah Afridi is not part of this squad.
Pakistan Test Squad 2026 — Full Player List
| # | Player | Role | Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Babar Azam C | Batter | Right-hand bat |
| 2 | Saud Shakeel VC | Batter | Left-hand bat |
| 3 | Imam-ul-Haq | Batter | Left-hand bat |
| 4 | Azan Awais | Batter | Left-hand bat |
| 5 | Abdullah Fazal | Batter | Left-hand bat |
| 6 | Shan Masood | Batter | Left-hand bat |
| 7 | Muhammad Awais Zafar | Batter | Right-hand bat |
| 8 | Salman Ali Agha | Allrounder | Right-hand bat, Off-break |
| 9 | Mohammad Rizwan | WK Batter | Right-hand bat |
| 10 | Muhammad Ghazi Ghori | WK Batter | Right-hand bat |
| 11 | Ali Usman | Spinner | Slow left-arm orthodox |
| 12 | Sajid Khan | Spinner | Right-arm Off-break |
| 13 | Mohammad Abbas | Pace Bowler | Right-arm Medium Fast |
| 14 | Khurram Shahzad | Pace Bowler | Right-arm Medium Fast |
| 15 | Mohammad Ali | Pace Bowler | Right-arm Medium Fast |
| 16 | Ubaid Shah Uncapped | Pace Bowler | Right-arm Medium Fast |
Source: PCB official announcement · Aamir Jamal is travelling reserve. Saud Shakeel subject to fitness clearance.
Saud Shakeel update. The Test vice-captain sustained an injury ahead of the tour and will join the squad in the West Indies subject to a fitness clearance from the PCB medical team.
Full Tour Schedule — West Indies and England 2026
Pakistan play two Tests in the West Indies followed by a three-Test series in England between August and September 2026.
Full match times, broadcast details and series previews at our Pakistan Tour of West Indies 2026 and England vs Pakistan Test Series 2026 pages.
Key Players to Watch
Five players who could define Pakistan’s Test summer in 2026.
Babar Azam
Returns to lead the Test side after the ODI captaincy switch. His record in England (two centuries in 2021) and leadership experience make him the squad’s most important figure.
Mohammad Abbas
Back in the squad after a comeback series in South Africa where he took 10 wickets and reached his Test century. His swing and control are purpose-built for English conditions.
Ubaid Shah
The standout new face. Naseem Shah’s younger brother took 72 first-class wickets in 16 matches and was named in the ICC U19 Team of the Tournament in 2024. First senior international tours.
Salman Ali Agha
Pakistan’s most complete allrounder in this squad. Off-break bowling plus useful middle-order runs. His role in both departments makes him irreplaceable in subcontinental and overseas conditions alike.
Saud Shakeel
When fit, the most technically correct batter in this group. His 208 not out in Sri Lanka and 134 against England at Rawalpindi prove he can perform under pressure. Fitness remains the only question.
Men’s National Selection Committee
Pakistan’s Test squad for West Indies and England 2026 was selected by the following committee under the PCB.
Pakistan Test Team in 2026 — Context
Pakistan’s Test structure has shifted considerably since the 2025 home series. Shaheen Shah Afridi has been dropped from the Test squad, a significant call given his ODI captaincy, with the selectors opting for seam variety over raw pace. The pace group of Abbas, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali and Ubaid Shah offers a better balance of experience and energy for the conditions in the Caribbean and England.
Babar Azam’s return as Test captain closes a chapter of instability in the leadership. He has the batting record and the dressing-room trust to reset the team’s direction ahead of the 2027 cycle. The squad’s biggest strength is its top-six batting depth; its biggest variable is the pace attack’s collective fitness across five Tests in six weeks.
For deeper reading on the squad decisions and series context, see our analysis at Babar Azam Test Captain 2026, Shaheen Afridi dropped from Test squad and Pakistan pace attack analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Babar Azam is the Pakistan Test captain in 2026, leading the side for the West Indies tour starting 25 July and the England series starting 19 August 2026.
The 16-member squad is: Babar Azam (C), Saud Shakeel (VC), Imam-ul-Haq, Azan Awais, Abdullah Fazal, Shan Masood, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Ali Usman, Sajid Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali and Ubaid Shah. Aamir Jamal is travelling reserve.
Saud Shakeel is named as Test vice-captain but is subject to a fitness clearance. He sustained an injury before the tour and will join the squad in the West Indies if passed fit by the PCB medical team.
Shaheen Shah Afridi was dropped from Pakistan’s Test squad for the West Indies and England tours. The selectors opted for a seam attack of Abbas, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali and Ubaid Shah. Full analysis at our Shaheen Afridi dropped page.
Ubaid Shah is the only uncapped player in Pakistan’s Test squad for 2026. The 20-year-old right-arm pacer from Lower Dir took 72 first-class wickets in 16 matches and was named in the ICC U19 Team of the Tournament in 2024. He is the younger brother of Naseem Shah.
The England vs Pakistan Test series 2026 starts on 19 August at Headingley, Leeds. The 2nd Test is at Lord’s from 27 August and the 3rd Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham from 9 September 2026.
Pakistan’s Men’s National Selection Committee consists of Aqib Javed (chairman), Misbah-ul-Haq, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Asad Shafiq, alongside head coach Mike Hesson.