Multan, Pakistan

England captain Ben Stokes has issued an apology to his side after they were beaten by 152 runs in the second Test match against Pakistan on Friday (Oct 18). Playing at the Multan Cricket Stadium the defeat comes as a huge disappointment for the visitors while they dismantled Pakistan at the same venue last week in the first Test match. After the match, Stokes confessed to the same with the series now moving to the decider.

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Stokes issues apology

"I actually apologised to the group up there last night," Stokes said afterwards. "It's the first time in my captaincy that I've let my emotions show in my body language, with how I was feeling as the game was unfolding. I owned up to that, and I'm very annoyed at myself for letting that out.”

England had enjoyed a great run heading into the second Test as they won by an innings and 47 runs. They were hot favourites to win the second Test and pocket the series, however, a rejuvenated Pakistan won the match after some smart decision-making. Having been restricted to 291 runs in the first innings, Stokes and Co were bowled out for 144 on Day 4 of the Test match, in the process losing the Test match.

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The English side was slammed for poor decision-making and were all over the place in terms of shot selection.

On the other hand, the win was Pakistan’s first in 2024 and the first under Shan Masood after being appointed as the captain of the Test side. Sajid Khan and Noman Ali were the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan with the latter scalping 11 wickets but was not given the Player of the Match in favour of the former. Noman ended with figures of 46/8 in the second innings while Sajid had figures of 111/7 in the first innings.