Captain Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique smashed centuries putting the hosts in a dominant position on Day 01 of the first test on England’s tour of Pakistan 2024.
Pakistan continued their inning to 233 for 1 in the wicketless and the duo extended their second wicket partnership to 225 as the English bowlers struggled to break through the defences.
Pakistan continued to bat with an aggressive style which England batters adopted as a Bazbal approach on their previous tour to the country.
England bowlers struggled to take wickets on a surface which did not aid them after collecting the first wicket.
Highest 2nd-wicket partnership for Pakistan in Tests:
291 – Mushtaq Mohammad, Zaheer Abbas vs 🏴, 1971
287 – Azhar Ali, Mohammad Hafeez vs 🇱🇰, 2012
262 – Ijaz Ahmed, Saeed Anwar vs 🇳🇿, 1996
253 – Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood vs 🏴, today#PAKvENG | #TestAtHome pic.twitter.com/g0nUKGuKBJ— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 7, 2024
Abdullah Shafique scored 102 while Shan Masood smashed 151 runs before losing their wickets. Shafique who struggled during the test series against Bangladesh, smashed his half-century in 77 balls.
He also survived a close run out when captain Ollie Pope’s throw missed the stumps at the non-striker end.
Gus Atkinson who playing his first overseas test match, gave England a breakthrough by picking the wicket of the fast bowler’s second over after Masood won the toss and elected to bat.
Pakistan had been longing for their first test win at home for more than three years after beating South Africa in 2021. Masood who had lost all five test matches as a captain said that the team is hurt with consecutive losses.
Fast bowling all-rounder Aamer Jamal who missed the series against Bangladesh has recovered from a back injury and will combine with two frontline fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah as Pakistan includes Abrar Ahmed.
Meanwhile, England captain Ben Stokes will be missing the series opener because he has not fully recovered from a hamstring injury he sustained during The Hundred 2024.
Due to his unavailability, Brydon Carse was given a test cap and bowled at a speed of 140 mph.
Multan will be the host for the second test also after PCB decided to shift venues from Karachi due to renovation works going on at the National Bank Stadium.
