Pakistan receive major Shan Masood fitness boost ahead of England Test series

Pakistan have been handed a welcome fitness update ahead of their three-match Test series against England, with batter Shan Masood returning to full squad training at Beckenham on August 11. The left-hander, who sustained a finger injury while playing in the opening Test of the Caribbean tour against the West Indies, completed batting practice under medical supervision and appears on course to be available for the series opener.

Masood injured his finger during the opening Test of Pakistan's recent series against the West Indies in the Caribbean and watched on from the sidelines as the team broke a three-year drought with their first victory away from home since 2023 in the second Test. But, as confirmed by the ICC, the stylish left-hander trained with the rest of Pakistan's squad and appears on track to return to the lineup for the first Test against England in Leeds from August 19.

Pakistan have named a 17-member squad for the three Tests, which form part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-2027 cycle. The series begins at Headingley, Leeds, on August 19, 2026, and continues across two further iconic English venues through September.

The squad's preparations also include a three-day tour match against a Professional County Club Select XI, commencing August 13, 2026. That fixture was originally scheduled across four days before being reduced, and it gives Pakistan's players a valuable opportunity to build match sharpness before the first Test.

Pakistan's two-Test tour of the Caribbean delivered contrasting fortunes. Masood's finger injury during the first Test limited his involvement in that match, casting early doubt over his availability for the England assignment. Masood, however, was in stellar form with the bat, scoring a well-made 109 in Pakistan's first innings despite their 90-run loss.

The team responded positively in the second Test, however, recording their first victory on foreign soil since 2023. That result ended a three-year winless run away from home and will have lifted the mood considerably within the touring party as they shifted focus to England.

Pakistan currently sit eighth in the ICC World Test Championship standings, making the three-Test series against England a significant block of fixtures in the 2025-2027 cycle. Every point on offer across the three matches will have a direct bearing on their final WTC position.

The schedule is spread across three venues: the first Test at Headingley, from August 19 to 23, the second at Lord's, from August 27 to 31, and the third at Edgbaston, from September 9 to 13. A strong series result could meaningfully improve Pakistan's standing in the table.

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