Multan, Pakistan

Pakistan has made wholesome changes to their playing XI for the second Test against England in Multan on Tuesday (Oct 15). The hosts have altered their bowling attack from the first Test at the same venue, which they lost by an innings and 47 runs. Pakistan lost despite scoring 556 in the first inning, forcing the newly formed selection committee to make drastic changes.

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The selectors met twice in two days, dropping the three biggest names in the Pakistan Team for the remaining Tests – Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah. With two frontline seamers out of contention and Abrar Ahmed continuing to recover from high fever, Pakistan included three new faces: left-arm spinner Noman Ali, leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood, and off-spinner Sajid Khan, in the bowling attack, all three being spinners.

Pakistan also handed a debut cap to batter Kamran Ghulam, who will play in the fourth position.

ALSO READ: 'India didn't bench...: Fakhar Zaman cites Virat Kohli on PCB dropping Babar Azam for remaining England Tests

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Of the four bowlers used in the first match, only Aamer Jamal has retained his place, playing as the only seamer. If Shan Masood and Mohammad Rizwan decide against rolling over their arms in the second Test, it would be the first occasion that Pakistan will enter the field with just one pacer.

Meanwhile, with Pakistan’s domestic home season yet to begin, none of the bowlers picked have had any red-ball experience. While Noman last played a first-class game in October last year, Mahmood and Sajid haven’t played one since January 2024.

Such an inexperienced bowling attack could do either of the two things – play in England’s hands, with most of their batters in top-notch form and regular captain Ben Stokes returning to the playing XI, or spring a surprise and turning the tables on the visitors like the first Test defeat never occurred.

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Here is Pakistan’s playing XI for the second Test against England –

Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (c), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Zahid Mahmood

(With inputs from agencies)