England opt to bat as Pakistan pick three spinners in second Test

MULTAN: England won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan in the second Test of the historic three-match series, here at Multan Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Pakistan are currently trailing the series by 0-1 after they lost by 74 runs in the first Test in Rawalpindi.

Pakistan made three changes in the playing XI from the Rawalpindi Test as spin all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz and uncapped mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed are included in the team along with Faheem Ashraf. Azhar Ali and Naseem Shah are rested for the second Test while Haris Rauf has been ruled out of the series due to injury.

England on the other called in spearhead pacer Mark Wood in place of Liam Livingstone while the rest of the side remain unchanged.

Playing XIs:

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Asraf, Zahid Mahmood, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Ali

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pop, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C),Will Jacks, Mark Wood, Ollie Robinson, Jack Leach, James Anderson