Bold selection calls and a spin-friendly surface in Multan helped Pakistan end their winless home run with a series-levelling victory in the second Test against England on Friday.
Pakistan’s victory by 152 runs in a little over three days is their first at home since they beat South Africa in Rawalpindi in February 2021.
Their first win under Shan Masood’s captaincy also lifted some of the gloom that had descended on a team smarting from a 2-0 whitewash at home against Bangladesh.
It would not have been possible but for the bold calls selectors took after England inflicted an innings defeat in the series opener. Babar Azam and pacers Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi were dropped, and the move paid off.
Replacing Babar, Kamran Ghulam impressed immediately smashing a terrific hundred in the first innings of his debut Test.
“It’s never easy when you’re replacing one of the best batters in the world,” Shan said of Kamran, who was trolled on social media after his selection. “But we were
all behind him and I think from the get-go, he seemed like he belonged.”
Off-spinner Sajid Khan and left-arm spinner Noman Ali wreaked havoc sharing all 20 England wickets in a terrific display of spin bowling on an obliging surface.
They bowled so well that Shan did not use a third bowler in England’s second innings that lasted 33.3 overs.
While chasing 297 on a worn-out wicket, England lost eight wickets in Friday’s morning session to be bundled out for a paltry 144.
They were left to rue two dropped catches early in Salman Agha’s knock, which helped add valuable runs to Pakistan’s second innings.
Reuters
