Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first against England in the second Test at Multan. Captain Shan Masood expressed confidence in utilizing a recycled pitch, which had produced 1,599 runs in the previous match.
Squad Changes for Pakistan
Masood announced a significantly changed squad, featuring three spinners—Sajid Khan, Zahid Mahmood, and Noman Ali—alongside Aamer Jamal, the sole survivor from the bowling attack that conceded 823 for 7 in the first Test. He noted the pitch’s recent modifications, including heavy watering and industrial fans to enhance its performance.
“Given the pitch conditions, we aim to post a solid score and assess how it plays over the coming days,” Masood stated. “Playing Test cricket for Pakistan is a massive opportunity for anyone. There’s a renewed energy in the camp, even though some things remain beyond our control.”
Kamran Ghulam’s Test Debut
Another significant change for Pakistan is Kamran Ghulam’s inclusion for his Test debut, replacing the struggling Babar Azam at number four. “It’s heartwarming to see Ghulam finally get his chance; he has been outstanding in domestic cricket,” Masood added.
England’s Strategy and Squad
For England, Ben Stokes returns as captain, a decision influenced by the pitch’s expected spin support, reducing the pressure on his seamers after a hamstring injury sidelined him for two months. Stokes acknowledged that England would have batted first but expressed confidence in their bowling attack of three seamers and two spinners.
“It was an amazing victory last week, and our intensity set the tone,” Stokes said. “We believe we’ve covered all bases; we’ll see how the pitch behaves.”
Teams
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (capt), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Aamer Jamal, Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, Zahid Mahmood
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wk), Matthew Potts, Brydon Carse, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.
Leave a Reply