Pakistan Adds Four Players, Releases Two Before Sri Lanka Tests

Pakistan added four players to its squad for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka and released Abdullah Fazal and Ali Usman, the Pakistan Cricket Board said. The changes come before the opening Test, scheduled to begin in Rawalpindi on November 9, with the second Test due to start in Lahore on November 17.

The additions are Aamer Jamal, Ali Shabbir, Saqib Khan and Tayyab Arif. Shabbir, Saqib and Arif have yet to make their international debuts, while Jamal returns after playing nine Tests for Pakistan. The four players featured for the PCB Patrons XI in a practice match against Sri Lanka.

The PCB did not give a reason for releasing Fazal and Usman. A report citing unnamed sources said head coach Mike Hesson instructed the releases, but that account has not been confirmed by the board. Reports placed the squad announcement on either November 6 or November 7; the PCB release and accounts published on November 7 described the changes as having been made that day.

The board cited Arif’s domestic form in announcing his selection, saying he scored 727 runs in the recently concluded tournament. One account of the PCB statement said he made those runs in seven matches at an average of...