In a surprising move, Pakistan has dropped key players Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Sarfaraz Ahmed from the squad for the second and third Test matches against England, following an embarrassing innings defeat in the first Test. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) cited 'current form and fitness' as the reasons for this decision, with Babar's recent performances being particularly scrutinized—he has not scored a half-century in 18 innings and last reached 50+ in December 2022. The selectors aim to give these players a break to regain their fitness and confidence while introducing newcomers Haseebullah, Mehran Mumtaz, and Kamran Ghulam to the squad. Aqib Javed, a member of the selection committee, expressed that the team must rebound quickly and prepare for a demanding international schedule ahead. The second Test is set to take place in Multan on October 15 and the third in Rawalpindi on October 24, with the revised squad aiming to shift the momentum in the series.