Pakistan add four players to Test squad for Sri Lanka series
Tayyab, Ali and Saqib earn maiden international call-ups, while Ali Usman and Abdullah Fazal are released from the squad.
Pakistan have added four players to their Test squad for the two-match series against Sri Lanka, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement on Saturday.
Pace-bowling all-rounder Aamer Jamal, fast bowler Ali Shabbir, batter Muhammad Tayyab Arif and pacer Saqib Khan were the players added, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed.
The PCB had named an initial squad for the Test series before making the changes.
Tayyab, Ali and Saqib received their first international call-ups, having played in the Patron's XI three-day practice match against Sri Lanka at the Islamabad Club from Nov. 4 to 6.
Ali Usman and Abdullah Fazal have been released from the squad after being included in the initial side, the statement said.
The updated squad is captained by Babar Azam and includes Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori, Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Taha, Razaullah, Saad Baig, Salman Ali Agha, Sameer Minhas and Saud Shakeel.
Jamal, who has played nine Tests, three ODIs and six T20Is for Pakistan, returns to the Test setup, the statement said.
The 30-year-old has been in strong domestic form, taking 7-32 and scoring a valuable 55 with the bat in the President's Trophy Grade-I final.
Tayyab earned his call-up after scoring 727 runs in seven first-class matches at an average of 66.09, including three centuries, the statement said.
Ali, who is 19, has taken 22 wickets in eight first-class matches.
Saqib finished as one of the leading wicket-takers in the 2025-26 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy with 47 wickets in nine matches at an average of 20.60.
The opening Test will begin on Monday, Nov. 9, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
The series forms part of the World Test Championship cycle, and the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy is Pakistan's main first-class domestic competition.
