Pakistan openers Abdullah Shafiq and Saim Ayub took to the crease on Tuesday as Pakistan began their innings in the second Test against England at Multan Cricket Stadium, following Pakistan’s decision to bat after winning the toss.
Captain Shan Masood opted to bat first, hoping to capitalize on the conditions, as Pakistan aims to bounce back from the defeat in the first Test of the three-match series, also played at the same venue.
England captain Ben Stokes has returned to the squad after missing the first Test due to a hamstring injury, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Monday.
Notably, key Pakistani players Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah have been left out of the squad, which was announced on Sunday.
Pakistan Playing XI:
Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafiq, Shan Masood (captain), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mehmood.
England Playing XI:
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wk), Brydon Carse, Matt Potts, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.
