Pakistan enters the second Test against England in Multan, starting October 15 at 10:00 a.m. PKT, under immense pressure. They need a win to keep their series hopes alive after a historic defeat in the first Test.

With significant changes to the squad, including the resting of key players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah, Pakistan faces a daunting challenge as they look to level the series. Sajid Khan, Mehran Mumtaz, and Mohammad Ali came into the squad, replacing the bowlers, while Haseebullah and Kamran Ghulam replaced Sarfaraz and Babar.

For Pakistan, the stakes could not be higher. A loss would hand England their second consecutive Test series victory on Pakistani soil after winning the 2022 Test series.

England, meanwhile, enters the second Test brimming with confidence after a dominant display in the series opener. Ben Stokes has also joined the playing 11 along with Matt Potts, replacing Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes. Despite fielding a relatively inexperienced bowling attack, England’s bowlers looked sharp and capable in the first Test, and they will be eager to maintain their momentum.

The second Test will be played on the same pitch the first Test was played on. It will be curated to assist spin from the very first day. The head curator, Tony Hemming, is expected to prepare a turner that would heavily favor spin bowling from the outset, leading Pakistan to announce an XI that includes 3 spinners: Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Zahid Mahmood, with Aamir Jamal the only specialist pacer.

As the two sides prepare for the second Test on the same Multan pitch, Pakistan will be banking on their spinners and new-look lineup to turn the tide in their favor. For England, a series-clinching win is within reach. As Pakistan battles for survival and England hunts for a series win, the stage is set for a thrilling second Test in Multan.

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

England XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes ©, Jamie Smith (wk), Brydon Carse, Jack Leach, Matthew Potts, Shoaib Bashir