Pakistan have reshaped their Test squad on the eve of the Sri Lanka series, adding four players and releasing two from the group named last month. The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed the changes on Saturday, 7 November, two days before the first Test begins in Rawalpindi.

Pace-bowling all-rounder Aamer Jamal returns to the Test set-up, joined by three players earning maiden international call-ups: fast bowler Ali Shabbir, batter Muhammad Tayyab Arif and pacer Saqib Khan. Ali Usman and Abdullah Fazal, both part of the initial squad, have been released.

Three new faces earn first call-ups

The three newcomers earned their places on the back of strong domestic seasons. Tayyab has scored 727 runs in seven first-class matches at an average of 66.09, including three centuries. Ali, aged 19, has taken 22 wickets in eight first-class matches, while Saqib was among the leading wicket-takers in the 2025-26 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, finishing with 47 wickets in nine matches at an average of 20.60.

All three featured in the Patron's XI three-day practice match against Sri Lanka at the Islamabad Club from 4 to 6 November, giving the selectors a final look before the series opener.

Jamal, 30, has played nine Tests, three one-day internationals and six Twenty20 internationals. He has been in impressive domestic form, starring in the President's Trophy Grade-I final with figures of 7 for 32 and a valuable 55 with the bat, according to the ICC.

A squad rebuilt after a poor run

The changes complete a wholesale rebuild of the Test side. The hosts have won only two Tests and lost seven in the current World Test Championship cycle, and the selectors have left out former captain Shan Masood along with spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan. Mohammad Rizwan has also missed out, despite scoring a double century in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

Babar Azam continues as captain of the 16-member squad. The full squad is: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Ali Shabbir, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori, Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Taha, Muhammad Tayyab Arif, Razaullah, Saad Baig, Salman Ali Agha, Sameer Minhas, Saqib Khan and Saud Shakeel.

Sri Lanka arrive with a new captain

Sri Lanka, who have won one, lost two and drawn three of their six Tests in the same championship cycle, are led for the first time by Kusal Mendis. Pathum Nissanka returns to the batting line-up, young wicketkeeper Anjala Bandara is in line for a debut, and fast bowler Eshan Malinga has earned a call-up.

The two-match series counts towards the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27. The first Test runs from 9 to 13 November at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, and the second from 17 to 21 November at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, with each day's play starting at 9:30am local time.