That series stands as this England side’s greatest achievement to date. They found a way to win 3-0 on flat pitches and in unfamiliar conditions, in the process becoming the first, second and third team ever to score 250 or more runs at more than 5.30 an over against Pakistan. They topped out at 7.36 in the second innings of the first Test, a figure unmatched in the history of cricket until India rattled off 285 at 8.22 against Bangladesh last month.
“The way Ben [Stokes] led in that series was phenomenal,” said Ollie Pope, who stands in as England captain for the opening Test in Multan, which starts in the early hours of Monday morning. “He took a big risk in that first Test, which paid off, and the nature of the pitch dictated that if there was going to be a result, there was going to have to be a play made like that.”
Pakistan are belatedly trying to adopt key parts of that team’s approach. “We are always playing our best cricket when we’re not giving too much about the result and we’re playing an exciting brand of cricket when it is fearless, taking the game to the opposition,” Masood, their captain, said. “The best thing England did is realise there are other perspectives and things that might suit you. The key is to find new ways of doing things. That is how the world has always progressed and cricket is no different. You try and evolve and create new ways and England have been pioneers in that.”
England's Approach: A Shift in Perspective
This year England have spoken about a “refinement” of their style, but on Sunday Brendon McCullum insisted this was a misunderstanding. “When I was talking about refinement I was talking about some of the personnel in our group,” the England head coach said. “It wasn’t about the approach. The approach has never changed.”
England are aware that the path to success in this series may look very different to the trail they blazed in 2022. “The key to the tactics a couple of years ago was identifying you needed plenty of time to take 20 wickets in each Test, so we needed to force the run rate,” McCullum said. “We’ll see what unfolds over the next few weeks. If that’s the tactic we need we’ll go all in on it. If not we’ll hopefully be smart enough to adjust [tactics] and go all in on those.”
The Impact of Climate
One key difference between England’s last visit and this one is that it happened in December. Two months earlier, in McCullum’s words, “conditions are a little bit more extreme ... it’s rocking hot, for a start. I guess we’ve just got to be quite malleable with our plans and adapt as quickly as we can. That’s how the game rolls, right?”
McCullum praised Stokes’s ultimately futile efforts to get himself fit for the start of this series – “I’ve never seen a professional athlete train as hard. I think most human beings wouldn’t have been anywhere near” – and defended the decision of his fast bowling coach, Jimmy Anderson, to miss the first six days of the tour to play a pro-am golf tournament. “He’s been in regular contact with the guys and it’s an incredible sign that two months after taking up the role everyone’s desperately missing him,” he said of Anderson, who is due to arrive on Tuesday. “Jimmy’s allowed to live his life, as everyone is. We’re always looking to ensure people can enjoy themselves, to tap into their family life, their hobbies and fun. I don’t think it’s a big issue.”
Pakistan’s Struggle for Consistency
Pakistan are dealing with a few serious issues of their own, having lost all five of the Tests they have played over the past year, their first under Masood’s captaincy, going down 3-0 in Australia and, more painfully, 2-0 at home to Bangladesh. “We kept getting into winning positions but the game slipped from our hands,” Masood said. “Those are things we need to learn from. The challenge is to make sure that we finish games off. There is a lot of hurt within the players. 2024 has not been a good year for Pakistan cricket all over and we like to see our fans happy. We are hurt. The answer is to be positive. We let the past go.”
A Question of Respect
Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood was asked an odd question by a journalist in a press conference, which required Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) media manager to step in. The Pakistan team has been under intense scrutiny and has received criticism off late, particularly after a 2-0 Test series loss at home to Bangladesh. However, such was the question posed to Shan Masood, that PCB's media manager Sami ul Hasan decided that it was a step too far, and gave a firm warning to the journalist in question.
“One final request - in a humble manner - Pakistan's captain is sitting here. You can definitely ask questions, but please show respect,” said ul Hasan in a firm tone.
He singled out the journalist in his message.
“That's not the appropriate way of asking a Pakistan captain the question that you asked,” ul Hasan added.
With Pakistan struggling for form and a home series against England coming up next, the journalist called for 'self-reflection' from Shan Masood.
“You say that as long as you're given the opportunity (to play and captain Pakistan), you will continue. But doesn't your conscience and self-respect ever tell you that you're losing, not being able to perform, quit and leave?” the journalist had asked Masood
It appeared that Masood was instructed by the media manager to not answer the question and move on to the next one.
Pakistan's Home Woes
Pakistan lost a Test against Bangladesh for the first time in their history in August. In fact, Pakistan have not won their 10 previous Test matches at home, in a streak that stretches back to March 2022.
In that period, Pakistan have lost home Test series to Australia, England and Bangladesh.
Masood took over captaincy of the Test team in November 2023, after Babar Azam's resignation. Under him, Pakistan have been whitewashed 3-0 in Australia, and 2-0 at home by Bangladesh, winning only one series in Sri Lanka.
A Chance for a Resurgence
Their last home Test win came in February 2021 against South Africa in Rawalpindi. Since then, Pakistan has endured a tough run, losing six matches and drawing four, marking their longest home winless stretch since gaining Test status in 1952. Overall, since that victory, Pakistan has played 23 Tests, winning just eight.
Their victories include two wins each over Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, three over Sri Lanka, and one against the West Indies. Pakistan has faced 11 defeats, with losses to Australia (four times), Sri Lanka, West Indies, and England (three times), and Bangladesh (twice). Four Tests, all drawn, were against Australia and New Zealand.
Captain Shan Masood enters this series under pressure, having lost five consecutive Tests as skipper. Likewise, red-ball coach Jason Gillespie is seeking his first victory in a tenure that has yet to see success. Pakistan’s recent 10-wicket and six-wicket defeats to Bangladesh eliminated their chances of reaching the ICC World Test Championship final at Lord’s in June 2025.
The last time Pakistan and England clashed at the Multan Cricket Stadium, England secured a narrow 26-run victory. However, Pakistan can draw positives from that match, as England will be without key bowlers James Anderson (retired), Ollie Robinson (not selected), and Mark Wood (injured), while captain Ben Stokes is recovering from a hamstring injury. Notably, Abrar Ahmed took 11 wickets in that match, and Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel performed admirably with the bat. Captain Shan Masood and coach Jason Gillespie have expressed the need to move past recent failures and begin Pakistan’s resurgence. “We have a tremendous opportunity to turn things around against England, and we’re determined to start strong in Multan,” Masood remarked. “The team is motivated, and we’re hoping for results that will bring pride to Pakistan cricket.”
Masood also acknowledged the pressure of leadership: “Pressure is a privilege. Leading your country is both an honor and a responsibility. If the results are favorable, I will stay, and if not, I will face the consequences. I am not afraid of challenges, and this series is one of them.”
Coach Gillespie shared similar optimism: “Playing England on home soil is a thrilling challenge. We believe we are well-matched, but we know they’re a formidable side. Our focus will be on playing disciplined, consistent Test cricket. If we stay patient and stick to our plans, the results will follow. “People may doubt us, and that only drives the players more. We’ll give our best, and the results will speak for themselves,” he concluded.
A New Beginning for Pakistan?
ISLAMABAD: To regroup and put their World Championship’s campaign back on track, Pakistan are eagerly looking forward to series victory with the opening match against England today (Monday) at the Multan Stadium following repeated failures that saw the hosts losing five Test matches at a trot.
Though out of reckoning for a place in the WTC final, Pakistan are desperate to resurge in the longer format with a solid performance that was missing completely during their two-match Test series against Bangladesh.
For captain Shan Masood the series against England would be more a battle of survival being a batsman as well as team leader of what could be rated a disjointed team. “We have missed crucial moments during the Test series against Bangladesh. This time, we would try not to repeat those mistakes that resulted in defeats. We had our moments during that series which we could not capitalise, hence losing the series altogether,” Shan said in a media talk Sunday at the Multan Stadium.
Pakistan captain termed the Test series as a new beginning. “We enter the series against England with fresh minds knowing well that we have to overcome weaknesses we have shown against Bangladesh. There we could not come up to the challenge in the second innings and lost some key moments in between.”
On the home soil, Pakistan’s Test record is even worse, suffering an unprecedented 10-match winless streak including 3-0 whitewash they suffered against England here in 2022. Shan, however, seems determined to get back to winning ways with the opening Test against England.
“We are back to our best. Shaheen Shah and Naseem Shah who missed the last Test against Bangladesh at the Pindi Stadium will share the new ball with Aamir Jamal to support the duo as a third seamer.”
Ollie Pope the stand-in England captain revealed taking a leaf out of un-fit Ben Stoke’s book. “The way Ben led the team to victory against Pakistan two years back was phenomenal. He took a big risk at start of that series which paid off. Our strategy will be planned once we look at the wicket early Monday. Whether to bowl or bat we would decide after looking at the wicket but the wicket here is expected to break down more because of the weather conditions,” Pope said.
England’s captain praised Brydon Carse as a potential match-winner having all the talent to make his presence with bat and ball. “He is capable of reversing the ball with the speed he has got and is a handy batsman down the order.”
Pope who will be leading England abroad for the first time was all praise for his new-look team. “We have cricketers for every condition. We definitely will miss Ben Stokes, yet we have potential cricketers to help us overcome his absence. Though it IS difficult to replace an all-rounder of the caliber of Ben.”
Pope also praised Pakistan team mentioning Shaheen, Naseem, and Babar as top quality cricketers. “Admitted that they did not have a good run in recent times but they are capable of bouncing back.”
Abrar Ahmed's Impact
Abrar Ahmed had a standout performance in that match, claiming 11 wickets, while Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel impressed with the bat. Pakistan red-ball coach Jason Gillespie was confident of bouncing back and said: “Facing a team like England is exciting. Playing on home soil is a great opportunity, and we believe we match up well against them, though they’re a strong side. Our focus will be on disciplined, consistent Test cricket. If we stick to our plans and remain patient, the results will come.
Playing XI for first Test: Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed.
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (captain), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.
Saud Shakeel's Confidence
Crictoday
Lifeline of Cricket
Talking to the media ahead of the Test series against England, he expressed confidence in his team’s preparation and the potential to exploit England’s aggressive playing style. He said that just one day left before the start of the match, he shared his thoughts on the pitch, game plan, and the team’s mindset.
Commenting on the pitch conditions in Multan, Saud Shakeel admitted uncertainty. “At this point, it was hard to predict how the pitch will behave. It could be fast or slow, he said.
Despite not having a concrete idea of the wicket, Shakeel emphasized that Pakistan was ready for all scenarios.
The vice-captain highlighted the difference in roles between captain and vice-captain, acknowledging the significant responsibilities that rest on captain’s shoulders. “There was a big difference between a captain and a vice-captain. The captain has a lot more responsibility,” Shakeel explained.
Shakeel also reflected on the team’s recent performances, acknowledging that they did not play well in the previous series. However, he was confident in Pakistan’s ability to learn from past mistakes and put pressure on England.
“Our goal was to force England into making mistakes” he said and added that the England play attacking cricket, but with that comes opportunities for us to capitalize on their errors.
The Pakistan vice-captain was optimistic about his team’s chances, particularly against England’s relatively inexperienced fast bowlers. “Their fast bowlers do not have as much experience, and the team aims to take advantage of that, he remarked. “
Despite the aggressive brand of cricket England was known for, Shakeel remains confident in Pakistan’s ability to deliver.
“We are here to perform and execute our plans. We were close to winning in the previous Test matches, and now we hope to deliver a strong performance. Said added”
Shakeel also put to rest any rumors of division within the squad, affirming that the team was united and in good spirits.
“There was no groupism in the team. The environment in the dressing room was excellent and the team was fully prepared for the Test series,” he said.
With high hopes for the upcoming match, Saud Shakeel’s confidence reflects Pakistan’s readiness to challenge England and deliver an exciting series for fans.
Aamer Jamal's Return
Crictoday
Lifeline of Cricket
MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan has strengthened its batting line-up by including all-rounder Aamer Jamal for the first test after being routed 2-0 by Bangladesh at home in the last series. Shan Masood has lost all five test matches since he was elevated to red-ball captain.
Masood lost 3-0 to Australia in his debut series as test skipper when Jamal took 18 wickets and came in handy as a batter down the order. Jamal missed the series against Bangladesh because he was undergoing rehabilitation on a back injury.
“We have got an edge with the return of Aamer Jamal,” Masood said. “He also bats down the order and picked up 18 wickets. We have (leg-spinner) Abrar and (off-spinner) Salman to give us spin options.”
Pakistan has a woeful record in home test matches and hasn’t won at home since beating South Africa 2-0 in early 2021, while losing to England, Australia and Bangladesh. New Zealand also came close, but Pakistan managed to draw the series 0-0.
Pakistan had its moments to beat England when both teams last met at Multan two years ago. Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed made an impressive debut by grabbing 11 wickets before Pakistan narrowly lost by 26 runs when Mark Wood, missing in this series due to injury, claimed the key wicket of Saud Shakeel.
“It was my dream debut and last time we lost quite close,” Abrar said on the eve of the first test. “I hope to give a match-winning performance this time around and bring some happy moments.”
Pakistan’s top-order batters have long been struggling and premier batter Babar Azam hasn’t scored a half-century in his last 16 test innings. Opener Abdullah Shafique also struggled against Bangladesh while Masood couldn’t convert starts into big scores with only one half-century in four innings.
But Masood insisted Pakistan needed to give its struggling batters a longer run as he searched to win key moments and find momentum in the series against aggressive England.
“We came close to winning last time, but we let the matches slip away,” Masood said. “We know how they play, but at the end of the day we have to see how to tackle it. We are clear in our mind and that’s why we have named the XI.”
