Shafique, Shakeel Added to Pakistan Squad for Remaining West Indies and England Tours

Pakistan have strengthened their squad for the remainder of their tours of the West Indies and England by adding opener Abdullah Shafique and middle-order batter Saud Shakeel. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the duo's inclusion after Abdullah Fazal was ruled out of both series due to a back injury.

Fazal sustained the injury during a training session on the eve of the opening Test against the West Indies at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad, forcing the selectors to make changes to the touring squad.

Shafique returns to Pakistan's Test setup for the first time since October 2025, replacing the injured Fazal. The 25-year-old will be eager to revive his red-ball career after enduring a prolonged lean patch. Following an impressive start to his Test career, during which he amassed 856 runs at an average of over 65 in his first eight matches, Shafique's form has dipped considerably. He has managed just 754 runs in his last 31 Test innings at an average of 25.13, including only 136 runs across his previous nine innings.

Meanwhile, Shakeel's inclusion comes earlier than initially expected. The left-handed batter was not named in the original squads for the West Indies and England tours because of fitness concerns. However, Pakistan's Director of Cricket, Aqib Javed, had indicated that Shakeel was expected to join the team during the England leg of the tour. His recovery has progressed ahead of schedule, allowing him to rejoin the squad in the Caribbean.

Pakistan began the first Test against the West Indies on Saturday with six specialist batters, opting to play fast-bowling all-rounder Aamer Jamal at No. 7. While the combination offered greater bowling depth, it also left the batting lineup relatively light. Shakeel's arrival provides additional stability and experience in the middle order, giving Pakistan greater flexibility for the second Test and the subsequent series in England.

The additions of Shafique and Shakeel are expected to bolster Pakistan's batting resources as the team looks to recover from the setback of Fazal's injury and maintain momentum during a demanding overseas schedule.