Pakistan vs England Playing 11 For 1st Test: Aamir Jamal Among Three PAK Returns, Brydon Carse To Debut For ENG

Add as a preferred source on Google

One debut and several players set for return as Pakistan and England both announced their playing 11 for the first Test of the three-match series, starting on Monday (October 7) at the Multan Cricket Ground in Multan.

Aamir Jamal, who missed the Bangladesh series due to injury, has returned and been named in the Pakistan playing 11 for the series opener. Pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah also return to the side after missing the 2nd Test against Bangladesh last month.

The trio replace Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza and Mohammad Ali, who featured in the 6-wicket defeat to Bangladesh. Apart from that, the rest of the playing group holds a familiar look with Shan Masood leading the side.

Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique and Saud Shakeel make up the top of the batting order alongisde skipper Masood, while Salman Ali Agha, primarily a batter, will also be spin options alongside specialist Abrar Ahmed.

Mohammad Rizwan retains the gloves behind the stumps. Jamal, Shaheen and Naseem will make up the pace bowling attack for the hosts, who will be desperate to bounce back from the stunning series loss to Bangladesh.

England, on the other hand, will be without the services of their skipper Ben Stokes. Ollie Pope, who led the team during the home series against Sri Lanka earlier this year, will take over as stand-in captain.

As for the changes to their playing 11 from the defeat to Sri Lanka in the third and final Test, England has handed a debut to all-rounder Brydon Carse, and also welcome the return of spinner Jack Leach.

Leach will be the second specialist spinner alongside Shoaib Bashir. The pace attack will be spearheaded by Chris Woakes with Carse and Gus Atkinson serving as the other two quick options.

Also, fit-again opener Zak Crawley returns to the side after missing the Sri Lanka series with injury. Crawley replaces Dan Lawrence and will open alongside Ben Duckett. Pope, Joe Root and Harry Brook make up the rest of the batters.

Jamie Smith continues to hold the responsibility of the wicketkeeper. Here is a look at the playing 11 of Pakistan and England for the Multan Test, which is scheduled to be held from October 7 to 11:

Pakistan vs England Playing 11 for 1st Test

PAK XI: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (captain), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed.

ENG XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (captain), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.