Pakistan Eye First Away Test Win Since 2023 As West Indies Series Begins On July 25

ISLAMABAD: It has been three years since Pakistan last tasted victory in a Test match away from home. Since their 2-0 sweep over Sri Lanka in 2023, they have lost seven consecutive matches across three continents, a miserable slide that has forced selectors into drastic action.

On July 25, at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Pakistan will begin their quest to end that drought when they face West Indies in the first of two Tests. At the helm is Babar Azam, back as captain for the first time since that Sri Lankan triumph, leading a radically revamped squad that signals a clear break from the past.

Pace overhaul: The search for firepower

Pakistan’s selectors have run out of patience. For years, the team’s fast bowlers have been under scrutiny for their lack of pace and control, rendering them ineffective with both the new ball and old.

The numbers paint a grim picture: since the start of 2024, Pakistan’s pacers have taken only 92 wickets, fewer than even Zimbabwe, and better only than Ireland and Afghanistan, neither of whom are part of the World Test Championship.

Their combined average of 35.53 and strike rate of 58 rank as the second-worst in this period, with only Bangladesh (35.82) and Afghanistan (59.4) faring worse.

The response has been ruthless. Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali have been dropped. In their place come Mohammad Ali, Aamer Jamal, and uncapped 20-year-old Ubaid Shah, a pace attack built on domestic form, raw speed, and hunger.

پاکستان ویسٹ انڈیز ٹیسٹ سیریز

قومی ٹیسٹ اسکواڈ دو ٹیسٹ میچز کی سیریز کھیلنے کے لیے ٹرینیڈاڈ اینڈ ٹوباگو پہنچ گیا

قومی اسکواڈ آج آرام کرے گا

پاکستان کرکٹ ٹیم کل سے پریکٹس سیشن کا آغاز کرے گی

پاکستان اور ویسٹ انڈیز کے درمیان دو ٹیسٹ میچز کی سیریز کھیلی جائے گی

پاکستان ٹیسٹ… pic.twitter.com/nn6LvaqwKO

— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) July 15, 2026

Mohammad Ali: The line-and-length specialist

Dropped twice in his brief four-Test career, Mohammad Ali returns after almost two years with a point to prove. His first-class numbers are impressive, 244 wickets in 66 matches at an average of 25.03 and his recent form has been undeniable.

He was the highest wicket-taker for Sialkot in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2025-26 with 32 strikes in nine matches, followed by 19 wickets in six President’s Trophy games.

But it was his sensational PSL 2026 campaign that truly announced his return. His 20 wickets at 18.95 for Hyderabad Kingsmen were the most for any pacer, earning him a T20 Blast contract with Nottinghamshire, where he took 19 wickets at 16.21 in ten matches. Now, he brings that confidence back to the Test arena.

Aamer Jamal: The enforcer returns

Aamer Jamal was the find of Pakistan’s 2023-24 Australia tour. On debut, he produced figures of 6-111, the sixth-best by a Pakistani on Test debut, and followed it with a belligerent 82 off 97 balls in Sydney, showcasing his all-round capabilities. He finished that series as Pakistan’s best bowler with 18 wickets.

A back injury then ruled him out of the Bangladesh series, and he was reduced to a bystander during England’s tour due to a radical shift in Pakistan’s cricket philosophy. But Jamal has never hidden his passion for the longer format. “Red ball is legacy,” he recently tweeted, sharing his commitment to the cause. His domestic form, 22 wickets at 24.90 for Lahore Whites and nine wickets at 19.22 for SNGPL, suggests he is ready to lead the attack once more.

Ubaid Shah: The young gun

At just 20, Ubaid Shah, younger brother of Naseem and Hunain, earns his maiden Test call-up on the back of genuine pace. He regularly hits 140kph and has 72 first-class wickets at an average of 25.20 in just 16 matches. His best figures of 8 for 79 came in only his third match, and he finished his debut season with 25 wickets at 26.60.

An impressive Under-19 World Cup in 2024, where he was joint second-highest wicket-taker with 18 scalps at 12.38, and his role in Pakistan Shaheens’ Asia Cup Rising Stars triumph have marked him as one for the future. Now, that future has arrived.

✈️ Off to the Caribbean 🌴

Pakistan’s Test squad departs for the West Indies to take part in a two-match series 🏏#WIvPAK | #PakistanCricket pic.twitter.com/wA5KMCfIxW

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) July 13, 2026

Babar Azam: A captain’s redemption

Babar’s first stint as Test captain between 2020 and 2023 was considerably more successful, 10 wins in 20 matches, series victories over South Africa, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, and a batting average above 50.

His return to leadership comes at a critical juncture, with a punishing schedule ahead: West Indies away, followed by three Tests in England—Pakistan’s first there in six years, and then a challenging home season against New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

The pressure on Babar’s own form has been relentless. His averages since the start of 2024 have dipped across all formats: Tests from 42.67 to 28.72, ODIs from 53.43 to 39, and T20Is from 38.94 to 32.67. Yet recent signs are encouraging. He created the record for the most runs in a single PSL edition while leading Peshawar Zalmi to the title and played crucial knocks in Pakistan’s ODI series victory over Australia. Most recently, he made 47 and 68 in Sylhet after missing the Mirpur Test with an injury.

Pakistan vs West Indies Test Series Preview: Babar Azam Leads Pakistan into a Crucial Challenge

Pakistan begin their highly anticipated Test series against the West Indies on 26 July, with Babar Azam leading the side in a contest expected to test both teams’ temperament and… pic.twitter.com/WAS3bHmUfO

— SportsCapitol Intl. (@SportsCapitolin) July 21, 2026

But the century drought is over. Babar Azam returned to form in spectacular fashion, hammering a brilliant 100 off 151 balls in Pakistan’s four-day warm-up match against the West Indies Select XI at the Brian Lara Stadium. He retired after reaching his milestone, providing Pakistan with a strong platform and much-needed confidence ahead of the Test series.

The timing could not have been better. With his last Test century coming in December 2022 against New Zealand in Karachi, the pressure on Babar’s shoulders had been mounting. His response, a composed, fluent innings against a competitive West Indies attack, suggests the captain is peaking at exactly the right moment.

The Road ahead

The West Indies await first, a red-hot side that recently demolished Sri Lanka, including an innings victory by 217 runs. Pakistan’s 16-member squad for the series features bold selections: spinner Ali Usman, who topped the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy charts with 48 wickets in eight matches, replaces Noman Ali; Mohammad Abbas returns to the fold; and uncapped batters like Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal earn opportunities.

🚨 Starting 25th July! West Indies vs Pakistan Test Series is officially here and the Caribbean is about to get very heated 🌴🏏 2 Tests, WTC points on the line, Babar back at the helm 🔥 Who comes out on top? 👀 pic.twitter.com/s1Po3lbjyy

— Umar Farooq (@UmarFarooq31369) July 20, 2026

For a team that has lost its way in the longest format, this tour represents more than just two matches. It is a chance to rebuild, to rediscover the identity that once made Pakistan a formidable Test nation.

The ball will be new. The pace attack will be fresh. The captain will be determined.

And on July 25, Pakistan will step onto the field in Tarouba, hoping that after three long years, they finally have what it takes to win again.

Pakistan Test squads announced for West Indies and England tours

Read more ➡️ https://t.co/vjvoSPBfBP #WIvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/6O5NS9qT8p

— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) July 5, 2026

Pakistan Squad for West Indies Series (16 Players)

Babar Azam (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam ul Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicket-keeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shan Masood, Ubaid Shah.