Batsman Shan Masood will resume full team training at Beckenham on August 11, providing Pakistan with a much-needed fitness update ahead of their three-match Test series against England. After suffering a finger injury during the Caribbean tour’s first Test match against the West Indies, the left-hander finished batting practice under medical supervision and seems to be ready for the series opener.
Masood sustained a finger injury during the first Test of Pakistan’s recent Caribbean series against the West Indies.
He watched from the sidelines as the squad won their first away match since 2023 in the second Test, ending a three-year drought. However, the fashionable left-hander practiced with the rest of Pakistan’s team, according to the ICC, and it looks likely that he will be back in the starting eleven for the opening Test match against England on August 19 in Leeds.
For the three Test matches that are a part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–2027 cycle, Pakistan has selected a 17-person team. The series starts on August 19, 2026, at Headingley, Leeds, and runs thru September at two more famous English locations.
A three-day tour match versus a Professional County Club Select XI, starting August 13, 2026, is another part of the squad’s preparations. This match, which was initially slated to take place over four days before being shortened, offers Pakistan’s players a crucial chance to hone their match skills prior to the first Test.
Before coming to England, how did Pakistan do in the West Indies?
The results of Pakistan’s two-Test visit of the Caribbean were mixed. Masood’s participation in the first Test was restricted due to a finger injury, which raised early concerns about his suitability for the England assignment. Despite Pakistan’s 90-run defeat, Masood was in excellent form with the bat, making a solid 109 in the first innings.
However, the team reacted well in the second Test, winning its first international match since 2023. The touring party’s morale will have significantly improved when they turned their attention to England after that victory broke a three-year losing streak away from home.
Before the series, where does Pakistan stand in the World Test Championship?
The three-Test series versus England is an important block of matches in the 2025–2027 cycle because Pakistan is currently ranked ninth in the ICC World Test Championship standings. Their final WTC place will be directly impacted by every point available over the three games.
The first Test will take place at Headingley from August 19 to 23, the second will take place at Lord’s from August 27 to 31, and the third will take place at Edgbaston from September 9 to 13. Pakistan’s position in the table could be significantly improved by a successful series outcome.
Pakistan’s entire team for the 2026 England Test series
Babar Azam (c), Shan Masood, Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Ubaid Shah.
