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In the second Test at Multan, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first. Shan Masood was pleased to employ a recycled surface that produced 1599 runs in the opening game of the series last week.
Masood announced that the hosts had made significant changes to their lineup, adding three spinners (Sajid Khan, Zahid Mahmood, and Noman Ali) to the lone seamer (Aamer Jamal), who was the only player left from the Pakistani attack that lost 823 for 7 in the first innings of the Test match.
In the four days between Tests, the pitch has undergone an incredible transformation, with extensive watering and the employment of industrial-sized fans to wring more life out of the surface. He hoped to be able to take advantage of this.
“Given the condition of the pitch, we want to put a good score on the board and see how it plays over the next few days,” Masood said. “Playing a Test for Pakistan is the biggest opportunity for anyone as a cricketer. There is a rejuvenated energy in the camp, [even though] there are things that we cannot control.”
The other noteworthy alteration for Pakistan is the addition of Kamran Ghulam, who will be making his Test debut at number four, in lieu of the injured Babar Azam. Masood described it as “heartwarming,” pointing out that Ghulam has been a standout player for Pakistan in recent domestic cricket seasons. “He’s finally got his chance, I hope he has a memorable Test.”
Ben Stokes, who has been out of the game for two months due to a hamstring tear, has decided to return to captain England. This decision was made in part because of the pitch’s predicted ability to help the spinners.
Although he affirmed that England would have chosen to bat first if given the opportunity, he supported his attack with two spinners and three seamers in order to put pressure on the hosts. After their efforts in the first Test, Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson are the two quicks who are rested, with Matthew Potts joining the starting XI as well.
“It was an amazing victory last week, getting put in the field and bowling the way we did,” Stokes said. “Keeping our intensity and attitude set the tone for us, and allowed us to bat really big
“We feel we’ve got all bases covered, just wait and see how the pitch plays.”