Pakistan Release Sufyan Moqim From Tri-Series Squad
Pakistan release Sufyan Moqim from the ODI tri-series squad on Sunday, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) saying the nature of the pitches in Lahore shaped the call. The left-arm wrist-spinner will return to domestic cricket, while left-handed batter Maaz Sadaqat joins the squad as cover.
The PCB announced the change on the morning of the Lahore leg’s first match, as Pakistan prepare to face England at Gaddafi Stadium. The hosts are unbeaten in the three-team series, and a win over England would seal their place in the final.
“Left-arm wrist spinner Sufyan Moqim has been released from the Pakistan men’s squad, keeping in view the nature of Lahore pitches,” the PCB said in a statement. “He will return to play domestic cricket.”
The board added: “Left-handed batter Maaz Sadaqat has been added to the squad as cover for players carrying minor niggles.”
Pakistan Release Sufyan Moqim: Why Lahore Pitches Forced the Call
The decision comes down to conditions. Lahore’s surfaces tend to favour batting and pace bowling, and the PCB has judged that a second wrist-spinner would offer little value in the remaining matches at Gaddafi Stadium.
This is not a new pattern for Pakistan in Lahore. Captain Salman Ali Agha made the same point before a home series in the city last year, saying spinners had little success there and an extra fast bowler was picked instead. The current call follows that logic, with the squad tilted towards pace and batting depth for the Lahore leg.
Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan remain the spin options in the revised squad. The rest of the attack leans on pace, with Shaheen Shah Afridi leading a group that includes Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf.
Maaz Sadaqat Steps In as Cover
Sadaqat arrives as a batting option rather than a like-for-like replacement. He has played six ODIs for Pakistan, scoring 134 runs with one half-century. In five T20Is, he has scored 184 runs at a strike rate of 170.37.
He also arrives in form. Sadaqat impressed in the recent T20I series against Sri Lanka, which Pakistan won 2-1 at the Pindi Cricket Stadium. His role in the tri-series squad is cover for now, but the PCB has said he could feature in the playing side if required.
Moqim’s Record So Far
Moqim, also 24, has built a strong short-format record for Pakistan. He has played four ODIs, taking eight wickets, and 22 T20Is, claiming 30 wickets. His wrist-spin has been a regular feature of Pakistan’s white-ball plans, which makes the Lahore call a conditions-based decision rather than a judgement on his form.
His release leaves the squad with one fewer specialist spinner for the Lahore matches. The PCB has not announced any further change, and Moqim will now return to domestic cricket while the tri-series continues.
What Happens Next in the Tri-Series
Sunday’s match against England is the fourth of the series and Pakistan’s third outing. Pakistan have won both their matches so far, while England have lost both of theirs and sit at the bottom of the standings. A Pakistan win would confirm a final place with a game to spare.
Pakistan then face Sri Lanka in Lahore on Tuesday, October 27. Sri Lanka meet England on October 29, and the final takes place at Gaddafi Stadium on October 31. All remaining matches are in Lahore, which explains why the selectors have reshaped the squad for these conditions.
Readers following the series can catch up on Pakistan’s march towards the final, Sri Lanka’s 430 chase against England, the squad’s first training session and the Rawalpindi preview of the England clash.
The squad change was first reported by The Express Tribune and Geo Super.
Why was Sufyan Moqim released?
The PCB said the decision was made keeping in view the nature of the pitches in Lahore, where spinners have less to work with than in Rawalpindi.
Who has replaced him in the squad?
Left-handed batter Maaz Sadaqat has joined the squad as cover for players carrying minor niggles. He is not a direct spin replacement.
When is Pakistan’s next match?
Pakistan face England at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Sunday, October 25. They then play Sri Lanka at the same venue on Tuesday, October 27.
