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Shaheen Afridi And Naseem Shah Return As Pakistan Announce Playing XI For 1st Test Against England

Shaheen Afridi is back for Pakistan after missing 2nd Test vs BAN (Source: @Rnawaz31888/X.com)Shaheen Afridi is back for Pakistan after missing 2nd Test vs BAN (Source: @Rnawaz31888/X.com)

Shan Masood, the Pakistan skipper has announced the playing XI for the opening Test of the three-match series against England in Multan. Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, the two premier fast bowlers are back in the XI after missing the second Test against Bangladesh while Aamir Jamal is also back in the mix after successfully recovering from his back injury.

Pakistan have retained the batting arsenal that played against Bangladesh despite lacklusture performance in that series. Young Saim Ayub will open alongside struggling Abdullah Shafique while skipper Shan Masood will continue to bat at number 3. He will be followed by the trio of Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan while Salman Ali Agha and Aamer Jamal will provide balance with their all-round skills.

Pakistan Bring Back Experience In Bowling Attack

The three players to miss out from the last Test that Pakistan played are Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali and Mir Hamza. They have been replaced by experienced players like Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah along with Aamer Jamal and Pakistan would be hoping to produce better results in Multan. Abrar Ahmed is the only frontline spinner in the XI.

The visitors, England announced their playing XI on Saturday and will be without their regular skipper Ben Stokes who is still recovering from a hamstring injury. Brydon Carse will make his debut for England and with pressure on Pakistan to produce positive result after Bangladesh's disaster makes a series quite an interesting watch. England also have fond memories of their last tour to Pakistan where they whitewash the home team by a 3-0 margin and Shan Masood and his boys would be hoping to avenge that defeat this time around.

Pakistan Playing XI For 1st Test Against England

Pakistan Playing XI: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (C), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed