{
  "id": 18934732,
  "title": "Babar Azam says new Pakistan Test squad ready to fight against Sri Lanka",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/babar-azam-says-new-pakistan-test-squad-ready-to-fight-against-sri",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-08T12:07:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40448001/babar-azam-says-new-pakistan-test-squad-ready-to-fight-against-sri-lanka"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "RAWALPINDI: Pakistan's new Test squad, led by captain Babar Azam, is prepared to face Sri Lanka in their first Test match of the series, set to begin on Monday in Rawalpindi. This series marks Pakistan's return to Test cricket after their 3-0 series defeat in England last month, where seven players were sent home. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed, bowling coach Umar Gul, and white-ball coach Mike Hesson have all been replaced in the team, with only Salman Agha and Aamer Jamal being recalled from the previous selection. The new squad includes five players who were dropped after the final Test at Edgbaston, such as Mohammad Rizwan, Shan Masood, and the spin duo Sajid Khan and Noman Ali. Azam expressed his readiness to fight with the younger players and hopes to revive his batting form after a streak of 40 Test innings without a century. The two-match series is part of the World Test Championship's fourth cycle, with Pakistan currently ranked ninth and Sri Lanka seventh in the rankings. Sri Lanka's captain Kusal Mendis, who recently took over from Dhananjaya de Silva, expressed his excitement about leading the team and praised the batting lineup.",
  "summary": "RAWALPINDI: Captain Babar Azam hopes an overhauled Pakistan can make a fresh start in the first Test against Sri Lanka that begins in Rawalpindi on Monday after their disastrous series against England. The two-match series is Pakistan’s first since their 3-0 whitewash in England, where seven players were sent home after the second Test. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}