Pakistan and England are locking horns in the second Test at the Multan Cricket Stadium, with Pakistan aiming for redemption after a challenging first match. Day 1 saw England apply late pressure, dismissing Saud Shakeel and debutant Kamran Ghulam in the final session. However, England missed a crucial opportunity when Matthew Potts created an unreviewed chance.
In the 69th over, Potts bowled a probing length on off-stump, which Mohammad Rizwan, struggling for fluency, appeared to edge. As it passed the bat, the ball produced a faint sound, but wicketkeeper Jamie Smith and captain Ben Stokes decided against reviewing the appeal. This decision allowed Rizwan to survive and continue alongside Agha Salman, taking Pakistan to a respectable 259/5 by stumps.
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Earlier in the day, Saim Ayub led the charge with a determined 77 after the early dismissal of Abdullah Shafique, who managed just seven runs. However, the highlight of the innings was Kamran Ghulam’s superb debut century. The young batter showcased great composure and skill, scoring 118 off 224 balls before falling late in the day.
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Unusually, the second Test is being played on the same pitch and venue as the first—marking the first instance in cricket history where back-to-back matches are held on the same surface. Pakistan, eager to maximize their spin advantage after their request for a flat deck in the first Test, opted for just one specialist pacer, banking heavily on their spinners.
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Ahead of the game, captain Shan Masood expressed optimism, saying, “We’re happy the conditions favor our spinners. The main goal is to take 20 wickets, and we’re hopeful our spin attack can deliver that.”
