The Pakistan men’s national selection committee has announced the playing XI for the second Test against England, scheduled to start on Tuesday, October 15, in Multan. In a surprising decision, Pakistan has opted for a spin-heavy attack, omitting any prominent fast bowlers from the lineup.
Medium-fast bowler Aamir Jamal is the only non-spin option included in Pakistan’s bowling contingent after Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah were ‘rested’ for the remainder of the three-Test series. Opening batter Kamran Ghulam makes his return to the playing XI, providing additional depth to the batting order in the absence of Babar Azam, who was also ‘rested’ following a humiliating innings defeat against England in the first Test.
The team features three specialist spinners: Sajid Khan, Zahid Mahmood, and Noman Ali, as Pakistan aims to recover from their crushing loss in the series opener. Spinner Abrar Ahmed, who played partially in the first match, remains hospitalized due to an illness.
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In the first Test held in Multan, Pakistan faced an innings defeat, collapsing to England’s massive total of 823 runs in the first innings. This defeat marked a significant low for the home side, as they became the first team in cricket history to lose a Test match after scoring over 550 runs in their first innings. The loss highlighted a troubling trend in Pakistan cricket, with the team under the captaincy of Shan Masood suffering six consecutive losses.
This streak of defeats began with a 0-3 loss in the away series against Australia, followed by a shocking 0-2 loss at home to Bangladesh—an unprecedented outcome for Pakistan, marking the first time they lost a Test series to their South Asian rivals. The recent performances have left fans disheartened and raised serious questions about the team’s direction and strategy.
Pakistan’s Playing XI for the Second Test:
- Saim Ayub
- Abdullah Shafique
- Shan Masood (C)
- Kamran Ghulam
- Saud Shakeel (VC)
- Mohammad Rizwan (WK)
- Salman Ali Agha
- Aamir Jamal
- Noman Ali
- Sajid Khan
- Zahid Mahmood
