Pakistan Recalls Salman Agha and Adds Uncapped Batters for Sri Lanka Tests, Rizwan Still Out

Pakistan has recalled Salman Agha to its Test squad for the coming series against Sri Lanka, though Mohammad Rizwan has again been left out following the team's poor tour of England.

Agha and Rizwan were among seven players expelled from the Test tour of England in August. Pakistan went on to lose that series 3-0. The new squad is the first the team has named since that tour, and five of the players involved in the fallout remain out of favour.

Rizwan, a wicketkeeper-batsman, is among them. He is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the country's cybercrime agency. Earlier this week, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) allowed him to play in a domestic match.

Agha, 32, was not picked for this month's T20 series against Sri Lanka. He made his way back through the ongoing One-Day International series at home, where he scored a century against Sri Lanka last Sunday.

Left-arm spinner Ali Usman has also returned. He had been sent home from the England tour before the third and final Test.

Babar Azam will continue to captain the side in both matches. The first Test will be played in Rawalpindi from November 9 to 13, and the second in Lahore from November 17 to 21.

The 14-man group includes three uncapped batters: Mohammad Taha, Sameer Minhas and Mohammad Suleman. All three have performed well in domestic cricket.

The series forms part of the World Test Championship. Pakistan currently sits ninth and last in the standings, while Sri Lanka is seventh.

The full squad is Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Ghazi Ghori, Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Taha, Razaullah, Saad Baig, Salman Agha, Sameer Minhas and Saud Shakeel.