Multan: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat in the first Test against England at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Monday, as part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25.
At the toss, Pakistan captain Shan Masood expressed his desire to “change things and get back on track,” highlighting the team’s focus on a balanced combination of two spinners and three fast bowlers for the match.
The Pakistan side, looking to bounce back from a humiliating whitewash by Bangladesh, has endured a difficult run, losing five consecutive Test matches at home. This three-match series offers them a chance for redemption.
England, missing their captain Ben Stokes due to a hamstring injury, will be led by Ollie Pope. James Anderson is also absent, currently participating in Scotland’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Masood said the team has selected their “best playing XI,” with fast bowler Aamir Jamal making the cut to boost their bowling attack, while their batting line-up remains consistent.
England coach Brendon McCullum has warned his players of the challenges ahead, noting that the “rocketing heat” of Multan will add to the difficulty of replicating their remarkable 3-0 win over Pakistan on their last tour in 2022.
The second Test will also be played in Multan, followed by the third in Rawalpindi from October 24 to 28.
Pakistan Playing XI: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed.
England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (captain), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.
