Salman and Ali Return, Rizwan and Imam Out: The Untold Stories Behind Pakistan's Sri Lanka Series Squad

I was flipping through an old notebook at a tea stall near Rajshahi District Stadium last month. That notebook, filled with 22 overturned VAR decisions from the 2026 World Cup and comments from 60 fans, now has a new page—Pakistan's Test squad announcement. Seeing Salman Ali Agha and Ali Usman in the 14-member list stirred the tea-stall debate. One fan said, 'Look, those sent home mid-tour in England are back.' Another countered, 'Then what happens to Rizwan and Imam?' That question sits at the heart of this piece.

This squad announcement is not just a story of returns and omissions. In August, seven players were sent home midway through the England tour. Among them were Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq. Four months later, the same board recalls Salman and Ali but leaves out Rizwan and Imam. Two different outcomes from the same event. Why?

Let me clarify first: this is a preliminary 14-member squad for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka. But the composition suggests the selectors are thinking beyond one series—about the next year of Test cricket. Babar Azam remains captain. Three new faces—Mohammad Taha, Mohammad Suleman and Sameer Minhas—earn maiden call-ups.

When I left Dhaka's print desk in 2026 to build my own beat in Rajshahi, I learned that every squad announcement contains at least three stories. The first is statistical, the second is about power politics, and the third is about the names not on the list. This announcement has all three.

Story One: Domestic Numbers

In the ongoing President's Trophy Grade-I first-class competition, Mohammad Taha has scored 730 runs in seven matches, including three centuries and a highest score of 225. The 26-year-old left-hander tops the run charts. Mohammad Suleman is fifth with 652 runs and three hundreds. Sameer Minhas, in his first first-class season, has 405 runs in seven matches. Having come through Pakistan's Under-19 setup, the youngster's call-up is no surprise.

But the numbers alone don't tell the real story. When I discussed these stats at Rajshahi tea stalls, fans asked: 'What does 730 runs in domestic cricket mean? Will those runs hold up against international bowling?' The answer isn't in the stats. It's in technique. Taha is a left-hander whose 225 came on a track where spinners thrived. Sri Lankan conditions will favour spin, so Taha's selection reflects tactical thinking.

Story Two: The Seven From England

In August, seven players were sent home mid-tour. The decision was driven more by discipline and fitness concerns than performance. Salman Ali Agha and Ali Usman were on that list. Their return four months later doesn't mean selectors admit they were wrong. It means they have passed fitness tests and domestic performance checks.

Ali Usman's case is clearer. He is a leg-spinner who takes wickets regularly in first-class cricket. Pakistan's Test bowling attack lacks variety, especially in spin. Sri Lankan conditions may require two spinners, and Ali Usman's presence matters.

Salman Ali Agha is a middle-order batsman and part-time off-spinner. His return adds experience to the middle order and a bowling option.

Story Three: The Absence of Rizwan and Imam

Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq are not in this squad. Imam's omission is somewhat clear—young openers like Abdullah Fazal, Azan Awais and Sameer Minhas are getting opportunities. But Rizwan's omission is more complex.

In August, Rizwan's phone was seized in London on the night the Lord's Test ended. Pakistan's National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency is investigating. That investigation is ongoing. Selectors may have felt that keeping Rizwan during the probe would create unnecessary controversy. But a question remains—was Rizwan dropped only because of the investigation, or was his form also a factor?

I put this question to three cricket coaches in Rajshahi. Two said Pakistan has no replacement for a wicketkeeper-batsman like Rizwan. The third said, 'Until the investigation ends, it's better to rest him.' That divergence shows the decision is not purely cricketing.

Story Four: The Message to New Faces

Mohammad Taha, Mohammad Suleman and Sameer Minhas all performed domestically. Their selection is not just a reward—it's a message. Pakistan's Test team has long been dominated by senior players. Youngsters got few chances. These three selections signal that selectors are now prioritising domestic performance.

But there is a risk. Performing in first-class cricket is not the same as performing in international Tests. Sri Lanka's spin attack is talented, especially at home. Taha and Suleman face a stern test.

The Contrarian Angle: What No One Is Saying

The biggest counterpoint to this squad announcement is that it is being framed as a story of returns and omissions, but it is actually a picture of a deeper crisis in Pakistan cricket.

Over the past year, Pakistan's Test team has seen repeated changes in captaincy, coaching staff and selection panels. In such an environment, players struggle for stability. Salman and Ali's return and Rizwan and Imam's omission are part of that instability.

There is another issue. Pakistan's domestic first-class cricket has seen repeated match-fixing allegations in recent years. In such a climate, selecting three new players based on domestic performance is a brave call by selectors, but not without risk.

The Takeaway

For Pakistan, this series against Sri Lanka is not just two Test matches. It will shape their Test Championship future. Questions surround Babar Azam's captaincy, especially after the England tour. A good result here strengthens his position; a bad one raises more questions.

I wrote the final line in that tea-stall notebook: 'The squad is announced, but the story is not over.' Rizwan's investigation, Imam's future, the emergence of three youngsters—all remain open. Until the first ball is bowled on Sri Lankan soil, we cannot be certain of anything.

But one thing is clear—this squad announcement teaches us that return and omission are two sides of the same coin. And it is the selectors who flip that coin, not journalists like us. We only note in our notebooks—why this decision, and what we lost.