Cricket lovers, Day 1 of the PAK vs ENG 1st Test has given us some serious action! The flat Multan pitch, which seemed dead on arrival, ended up being the perfect platform for Pakistani batsmen Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique to take center stage. Fear was in the air—a repeat of Pakistan’s 2021 performance against England seemed possible. But with a solid 253-run stand, Masood and Shafique brought Pakistan roaring back to life!
Saim Ayub’s early dismissal didn’t shake things up, as the second wicket partnership was pure magic. With England missing Ben Stokes, Masood and Shafique made the most of the lifeless pitch. The 253-run stand is now Pakistan’s fourth-highest second-wicket partnership in Tests, following legends like Mushtaq Mohammad, Zaheer Abbas, and Saeed Anwar.
The Big Partnerships:
- 291 – Mushtaq Mohammad & Zaheer Abbas vs ENG (1971)
- 287 – Azhar Ali & Mohammad Hafeez vs SL (2012)
- 262 – Ijaz Ahmed & Saeed Anwar vs NZ (1996)
- 253 – Abdullah Shafique & Shan Masood vs ENG (today)
Masood, scoring at nearly 5 runs per over in the first session, notched up his fifth career century—and his first as Pakistan’s Test captain. After struggling with an average of just 28.6 as skipper, Masood finally delivered big, sending English bowlers chasing leather all around the park. The man of the day? Absolutely!
Masood’s Captaincy Stats:
- First 5 matches: 286 runs, Avg 28.6, 3 fifties, 0 hundreds
- Today: 151 runs, Avg 151, 1 hundred
Shafique, too, brought up his much-needed fifth Test ton. After struggling in his last three matches with a dismal average of 7, this century came as a huge relief. But just as quickly as he got to his milestone, Shafique threw his wicket chasing a wide delivery, and the flow of runs slowed down.
Masood, who later walked out after scoring his second 150+ score in Tests, left the challenge to Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel. England’s Ollie Pope spotted the moment and cranked up the pressure. Babar’s dismissal for 31 in the final overs left Pakistan at 328/4 by the end of play.
With two big centuries on Day 1, Pakistan looks in a strong position. Can they carry this momentum forward? We’ll have to wait and see!
