Pakistan vs England: Second Test in Multan
Babar Azam Rested, Not Dropped
As Pakistan prepares for the second Test against England in Multan, head coach Azhar Mahmood clarified that star batter Babar Azam has been rested, not dropped, from the remaining two Tests. Despite Babar’s willingness to play, the decision was made to rest him due to a busy schedule until April next year. Mahmood emphasized Babar’s importance to the team, calling him Pakistan’s “number one player.”
Pakistan’s Test Challenges
Pakistan aims to end a nearly two-year winless streak in Tests. They lost the first Test against England despite a strong first innings. England’s massive 823/7 total set records, and Pakistan became the first team to lose by an innings after scoring over 500 runs in the first innings.
Team Strategy and Changes
Alongside Babar, pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah were also rested. Mahmood explained the switch from a three-pacer, two-spinner attack to a one-pacer, four-spinner strategy, citing the need to rest the pacers and adapt to pitch conditions. The team plans to use spin-friendly pitches against England.
Pakistan’s Playing XI
The playing XI for the second Test includes Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (c), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel (vc), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Zahid Mahmood.
Doubts Revealed
Babar Azam -: Babar Azam is a famous cricketer from Pakistan. He is known for being one of the best batsmen in the world and is the captain of the Pakistan cricket team.
Test Match -: A Test match is a type of cricket game that is played over five days. It is the longest format of the game and is considered very challenging.
Multan -: Multan is a city in Pakistan. It is known for its rich history and is sometimes called the ‘City of Saints’.
Azhar Mahmood -: Azhar Mahmood is a former Pakistani cricketer and the current head coach of the Pakistan cricket team. He helps the team with strategies and training.
Spin-heavy strategy -: A spin-heavy strategy in cricket means using more spin bowlers. Spin bowlers make the ball turn on the pitch, which can be tricky for batsmen to play.
Shaheen Afridi -: Shaheen Afridi is a young and talented fast bowler from Pakistan. He is known for his speed and ability to take wickets.
Naseem Shah -: Naseem Shah is another young fast bowler from Pakistan. He is known for his pace and has impressed many with his skills at a young age.