LEEDS: Pakistan batter Saud Shakeel believes the country’s spinners could play a decisive role against England as the teams prepare for their opening ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 clash at Headingley on Wednesday.
Pakistan enter the Test with confidence after defeating the West Indies by eight wickets in Port of Spain earlier this month before securing a seven-wicket victory over a Professional County Club Select XI in their final warm-up at Beckenham.
Shakeel strengthened Pakistan’s preparations with an unbeaten century in the warm-up, while left-arm spinner Ali Usman continued his impressive form by claiming five wickets.
The 30-year-old believes England’s hot summer could produce dry surfaces that increasingly favour spin as matches progress.
“I think with the way the summer has been here in England, the pitches might become quite dry and bring spin into it,” Shakeel said, pointing to the movement available to spinners during England’s recent series against New Zealand.
Pakistan ready for England challenge
The Headingley encounter will be Shakeel’s first Test in England, although he has previous experience at the venue after representing Yorkshire in three County Championship matches in 2023.
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England will enter the series under new leadership, with Joe Root set to captain following Ben Stokes’ retirement and Brendon McCullum’s departure as coach.
Shakeel said Pakistan would focus on conditions rather than whether England maintained the aggressive approach associated with the previous leadership.
“We’re not thinking of the series in terms of Bazball,” he said, adding that Pakistan would not alter its playing style simply because of the opposition’s approach.
Pakistan squad for England Test series
Babar Azam (c), Aamir Jamal, Ali Usman, Abdullah Shafique, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel* (subject to fitness), Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah.
