England faced a challenging start to their tour of Pakistan as the hosts built a strong foundation, reaching 122 for one on the opening morning in Multan. Despite losing the toss and being put in to field, England managed to grab an early wicket when Gus Atkinson had Saim Ayub caught for just four runs. However, the rest of the session belonged to the Pakistani batsmen.
Abdullah Shafique (53 not out) and captain Shan Masood (61 not out) both scored half-centuries as they took advantage of the conditions and the English bowlers struggled in the scorching 37-degree heat. Spinner Shoaib Bashir conceded 42 runs from his six overs as the Pakistanis dominated the session with a run-rate of over 4.88 in 25 overs.
Debutant Brydon Carse had a near miss with an lbw decision against Masood being overturned, denying him a maiden Test wicket. Captain Ollie Pope also missed a key run-out opportunity, adding to England’s frustration in the field. The only success for England came through Atkinson’s early breakthrough, but the rest of the attack failed to make significant inroads.
Chris Woakes toiled without success, while Carse showed promise with his pace but was unable to pick up a wicket after a close lbw decision was overturned. England altered their tactics by introducing spin from Bashir along with short balls from Carse, but Pakistan’s batsmen remained untroubled.
As the session progressed, England struggled to create further opportunities, with a missed run-out chance and a few close calls being their closest moments to another wicket. Jack Leach, making a return to the side after nine months, bowled the final over before lunch, providing a glimpse of control with his left-arm spin.
Despite the early setback, England will be looking to regroup and come back stronger in the following sessions to put pressure on the Pakistani batting lineup. The touring team will need to find ways to break through the solid partnership of Shafique and Masood to gain control of the match.