In the much-anticipated Test match at Multan, Pakistan captain Shan Masood won the toss and chose to bat first, aiming to break the team’s winless streak on home soil, stretching back to 2021.

It was a brave decision, considering there was still a hint of green on the pitch. However, with temperatures expected to soar to nearly 40°C, Pakistan hoped to take advantage of the challenging conditions and pressure England’s relatively inexperienced bowling attack.

Masood acknowledged the frustration in the Pakistani camp, stemming from a series of close losses.

He commented, “We’ve been in winning positions and have not won from there. That’s created some hurt in the camp and the Pakistan cricketing fraternity.”

Pakistan’s form in Test cricket under his leadership has been disappointing, with five consecutive losses, including their most recent series defeat to Bangladesh in August.

This match was a crucial opportunity for Pakistan to regain momentum and restore pride in front of their home crowd.

England, led by stand-in captain Ollie Pope, were also looking to make their mark. Regular captain Ben Stokes was continuing his recovery from a hamstring injury, which meant he would not participate in this match.

Pope admitted that he would have liked to bat first, acknowledging the challenging conditions and noting that the early moisture in the pitch might have helped his bowlers.

England hoped to exploit any early movement with their bowlers, especially given the extreme heat expected later in the day.

Both teams announced in advance that they were playing XIs. For Pakistan, two key players, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, returned to the squad after missing the second Test against Bangladesh.

Their presence bolstered Pakistan’s pace of attack significantly. Aamer Jamal also made a comeback following his injury.

In contrast, leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, who made headlines with his spectacular debut against England two years ago, was tasked with leading Pakistan’s spin attack. Salman Ali Agha was also expected to contribute with his all-round abilities.

On the other hand, England took a more cautious approach regarding Ben Stokes’ fitness.

With Stokes not fully recovered, Chris Woakes was handed his first overseas Test appearance since March 2022.

Woakes was expected to guide England’s pace attack, featuring debutant Brydon Carse and the relatively inexperienced Gus Atkinson, playing only his seventh test match.

Jack Leach returned to the squad for the first time since his injury on the India tour last winter.

Leach’s comeback was noteworthy as he lost his position as England’s premier spinner to his Somerset teammate, Shoaib Bashir, who was also featured in this match.

Both teams were eager to make an impact in this crucial match. Pakistan’s batting lineup, led by Shan Masood and star players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Saud Shakeel, hoped to post a commanding total.

Despite missing some key players, England was determined to put up an intense fight with their mix of youth and experience.

The stage was set for an exciting contest, with the scorching Multan heat adding an extra layer of challenge to an already high-stakes game.