3 takeaways from Pakistan's squad for Pak Vs WI Test series 2025 ft. Shaheen Shah Afridi's absence

Pakistan have named a 15-member squad for the two-match Test series against the West Indies. The series commences on January 17, 2025, and both matches will be played in Multan.

The series against the West Indies is the last for both teams in the current WTC cycle. While the West Indies are languishing at the bottom of the table with a PCT of 24.24, Pakistan are second-last with a PCT of 24.31. Both teams have struggled, so the two-match series provides an opportunity for both teams to prepare for the next cycle.

The West Indies toured Pakistan for a Test series for the first time since 2006. They last won a Test on Pakistan soil in 1990. Pakistan's 15-member squad is as fllows:

Shaan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vc), Babar Azam, Abrar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wk), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha

On that note here are three takeaways from Pakistan's squad for the two-match Test series:

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#1 Absence of Shaheen Shah Afridi from the Test squad

Shaheen Shah Afridi has not featured in a Test since the first Test against England in Multan Source: Getty

One of the notable absentees from Pakistan's Test squad is pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi. The pacer wasn't considered for the Test series against South Africa and continues to be out of the Pakistan Test squad for the series against West Indies.

Afridi has been overlooked for Tests since the first Test against England in Multan in October 2024. He bowled 26 overs in that game and picked up a solitary wicket of opener Zak Crawley.

Afridi has been a bit off-colour in Test matches recently. In two Tests in 2024, the pacer picked up only three wickets at an average of 72.

It appears that the selectors would consider the pacer only for white-ball cricket until the Champions Trophy 2025 and would thereafter consider him for Tests basis his form and bowling workload.

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#2 The return of Imam-ul-Haq to the Test squad

Imam-ul-Haq makes a comeback to the Test squad after more than a year - Source: Getty

The injury to Saim Ayub during the second Test against South Africa has opened the door for Imam-ul-Haq to join the squad.

The southpaw last played a Test for Pakistan in December 2023 at the MCG. He managed only 22 runs across both innings and since then has been overlooked in red-ball cricket.

Imam has played 24 Test matches for Pakistan since making his debut in 2018 and scored 1568 runs at a modest average of 37.33. He has a good track record in Test matches in Pakistan and averages a healthy 62.62 with all three of his Test centuries on home soil.

Imam in all likelihood will open the batting with skipper Shan Masood in the Test series against West Indies. He will look to make his experience count at the top of the order and make a dashing comeback to the Pakistan Test squad.

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#3 Spin to be the key in the two match Test series

Sajid Khan and Nooman Ali picked up 39 wickets in two Tests against England in October 2024- Source: Getty

Pakistan haven't considered the pace quartet of Aamir Jamal, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah and Mir Hamza, who were a part of the Test squad that toured Pakistan.

Sajid Khan and Nooman Ali are expected to be the lead spinners for Pakistan in the two-match Test series. While Khan picked up 19 wickets at an average of 21.11 in the two Tests against England in October 2024, Ali picked up 20 wickets at an astounding average of 13.85. The duo picked up 39 of 40 English wickets in the second and third Tests of the series.

Pakistan will look to play to their strength and have also included Abrar Ahmed in their squad. Salman Ali Agha can also roll his arm over and is a handy spin option. Pakistan will be expected to field the three specialist spinners and Salman Ali Agha in the Tests and will look to trap the Windies batters in their spinning web.