MULTAN – Pakistan reached 79-2 at lunch on the first day of the second Test match against England in Multan.
After winning the toss, Shan Masood led squad elected to bat first, hoping to set a solid foundation. Openers Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub began the innings, but Shafique’s tenure was cut short when he was dismissed for just 7 runs by Jack Leach in the 7.3 overs.
Skipper Shan Masood contributed only three runs off seven balls before his exit. As the players take a half-hour lunch break, Pakistan will look to build on their current score when play resumes. The match promises to be an exciting contest as both teams vie for crucial early momentum.
Hosts remained under pressure to perform, as they seek to bounce back from their earlier defeat and secure a victory on home ground. The stakes are high, with the team looking to restore confidence and pride in the series.
In a surprising move, PCB excluded several star players from their lineup, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah, as they aim to rebuild and strategize for this crucial match.
Adding to the excitement, England’s captain Ben Stokes is making a comeback after missing the first Test due to a hamstring injury, which could significantly impact the match dynamics. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed his return ahead of the match.
As the game unfolds, all eyes will be on Pakistan to see if they can deliver a strong performance and avoid a clean sweep by the visitors.
Pakistan vs England Squads
Pakistan
Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (captain), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan and Zahid Mehmood
England
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wk), Brydon Carse, Matt Potts, Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir
England beat Pakistan by an innings and 47 runs in Multan Test
