
Saim Ayub and Kamran Ghulam guided Pakistan to 79-2 at lunch on the opening day of the second Test, after England’s Jack Leach claimed two quick wickets on a pitch that offered plenty of assistance to the spinners.
Ayub remained unbeaten on 40, while debutant Ghulam was 29 not out, as the duo helped Pakistan recover from 19-2 after winning the toss and choosing to bat in Multan.
England captain Ben Stokes brought on his spinners after just five overs, reusing the same pitch from the first Test. Leach quickly made an impact, bowling Abdullah Shafique for seven in the eighth over with Pakistan at 15. In his next over, Leach removed captain Shan Masood, who was caught at short midwicket by Zak Crawley for three.
By lunch, Leach had taken 2-35 from his 10 overs.
Pakistan opted to bat after winning the toss in the second Test against England in Multan. England currently lead the three-match series 1-0, following a dominant innings and 47-run win in the first Test at the same venue.
The loss marked Pakistan’s sixth consecutive defeat in Test matches, prompting the selectors to drop star batsman Babar Azam. Also omitted from the squad were pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, along with spinner Abrar Ahmed, who had been ill during the first Test.
Kamran Ghulam was given his Test debut, replacing Babar Azam in the lineup.