Pakistan’s check staff skipper Shan Masood, proper, and his England’s counterpart Ollie Pope pose for {photograph} with check sequence trophy, in Multan, Pakistan, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024.
| Photograph Credit score: AP
Pakistan captain Shan Masood warned on the eve of Monday’s (October 7, 2024) first Check in Multan that his aspect would nonetheless be going through a formidable England, regardless of the absence of their captain Ben Stokes.
Ollie Pope will once more lead England after deputising efficiently within the current 2-1 sequence win over Sri Lanka as Stokes, 33, was dominated out as he recovers from a hamstring harm.
“Everyone knows the standard of Ben Stokes,” stated Masood on Sunday forward of the beginning of the three-Check sequence. “He is among the high all-rounders of the world.”
“England’s power won’t reduce with one particular person [missing],” he warned. “They’re nonetheless very aggressive.
“In the event you have a look at their taking part in eleven then it’s extremely balanced with all-rounders, they usually have two spinners and three quick bowlers with deep batting, so their loss is that of a person.”
Stokes led England to an emphatic 3-0 Check sequence victory on England’s final tour in 2022, the primary time Pakistan had been swept at residence.
England return with Pakistan on a painful dropping streak — winless of their final 10 residence Assessments and struggling a humiliating 2-0 residence defeat to Bangladesh final month.
“They’ve clearly not had their strongest run not too long ago, however we nonetheless see them as a extremely expert aspect,” stated Pope. “They’re a staff we do not take evenly.”
Pakistan named their staff with a bowling assault of two quick bowlers in Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, medium-pacer Aamer Jamal and frontline spinner Abrar Ahmed.
A powerful Jamal took 18 wickets towards Australia in three Assessments in his debut sequence earlier this 12 months, however missed the Bangladesh sequence with a again downside. He additionally contributed 143 runs.
“With Jamal we get an edge within the seam division,” stated Masood.
With James Anderson and Stuart Broad retired, Mark Wooden injured and Ollie Robinson not chosen, none of England’s tempo bowlers from the 2022 sequence stay.
However Masood cited Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse as threats.
“You can’t under-estimate anybody and should be extra cautious towards any unknown participant,” stated Masood.
The second match can also be in Multan, from October 15, with the ultimate Check in Rawalpindi starting October 24.
Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmad
England: Ollie Pope (captain), Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jack Leach, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes
Revealed – October 07, 2024 02:52 am IST
