Pakistan Stands at 56 for 2 on Day 1 of Second Test
Pakistan faced a challenging start in their second Test against England, currently sitting at 56 runs for the loss of two wickets after 20.2 overs. Saim Ayub and Kamran Ghulam are at the crease, with Ayub scoring 28 runs off 49 balls and Ghulam contributing 18 runs off 38 balls.
After winning the toss, captain Shan Masood elected to bat first, hoping to rebound from a disappointing defeat in the series opener held on the same pitch. However, the decision proved precarious as England’s Jack Leach quickly made an impact, dismissing both Abdullah Shafique for just 7 runs and Shan Masood for a mere 3 runs from 7 balls. Masood’s dismissal came after an ill-timed shot, which was easily caught following a hard strike to his pads, showcasing Stokes’ aggressive fielding tactics.
England’s captain, Ben Stokes, returned to the team after injury and expressed confidence in his side’s morale following their victory in the first Test. He emphasized their aim to win the second Test and secure the series.
The match marks a significant change for the Pakistani squad, which saw the exclusion of four key players, including former captain Babar Azam. Babar, who has struggled for form with no fifties in his last 18 Test innings, was left out for the first time since his debut in 2016. Alongside him, pace bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah were also rested, while Mohammad Ali and off-spinner Sajid Khan were added to the team.
Pakistan Squad:
Captain: Shan Masood
Saeem Ayub
Abdullah Shafiq
Saud Shakeel
Mohammad Rizwan
Salman Ali Agha
Kamran Ghulam
Nauman Ali
Zahid Mahmood
Sajid Khan
England Squad:
Captain: Ben Stokes
Zak Crawley
Ben Duckett
Ollie Pope
Joe Root
Harry Brook
Jamie Smith
Brendon McCullum
Jack Leach
Shoaib Bashir
The changes in the Pakistani lineup come as selectors aim to rejuvenate the team after a tough series, with head coach Jason Gillespie and captain Shan Masood voicing their support for Babar, highlighting the need for time to regain form. Despite being the top-ranked ODI batsman, Babar has faced significant challenges since the beginning of 2023, averaging below 21 in his last nine Tests.