MULTAN, Pakistan: On the first day of the second Test against England in Multan, Pakistan demonstrated resilience with Saim Ayub and Kamran Ghulam stabilizing the innings after a shaky start.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, Pakistan found themselves at a precarious 19-2, with spinners exploiting the used pitch effectively. England’s Jack Leach made an immediate impact, dismissing captain Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique early, leaving the home side reeling.
However, Ayub and Ghulam managed to forge a partnership that lifted Pakistan to a more respectable score of 79-2 at lunch, with Ayub remaining unbeaten on 40 and Ghulam on 29.
The backdrop to this match includes Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the first Test, where they suffered an innings defeat, prompting selectors to make four changes to the squad.
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Former captain Babar Azam was among those omitted, along with prominent fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah. The inclusion of debutant Ghulam and a trio of spinners — Sajid Khan, Zahid Mahmood, and Noman Ali — signified a strategic shift towards bolstering their spin attack on a pitch favorable to spin bowling.
England, led by returning captain Ben Stokes, also made adjustments, bringing in Matthew Potts and restoring Stokes from injury, showcasing the competitive nature of the ongoing series. With the score at 79-2 at lunch, Pakistan aimed to build on this foundation and challenge England’s lead in the three-match series, currently 1-0 in favor of the visitors.
