Pakistan win toss, bat in second England Test

Fawad Alam has replaced Shadab Khan in the playing XI.

SOUTHAMPTON (Dunya News) – Pakistan have won the toss in the second England Test and opted to bat first at the Rose Bowl, Southampton, Dunya News reported on Thursday.

Fawad Alam has replaced Shadab Khan in the playing XI for his first Test appearance for Pakistan after eleven years. England have made two changes as Zak Crawley in for Stokes and Sam Curran has replaced Jofra Archer.

We are making one change as Fawad Alam comes in place of Shadab Khan. #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/yttyCB9U8w

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 13, 2020

Azhar Ali said, “The weather is quite hot and we would like to make full use of it and put runs on the board. There will be some freshness in the pitch for the first couple of hours but we will look to negate that.”

Joe Root said, “We wanted to lengthen our batting, Sam’s performed brilliantly down the order for us in the past. It’s quite muggy, feels like it could swing, very much looking to see him [Anderson] get into his work this morning.”

Pakistan win the toss and elect to bat first. For #ENGvPAK updates follow: @TheRealPCB_Live pic.twitter.com/YJxE6XfywR

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 13, 2020

England lead the three-match series 1-0. The Green Caps must win the second encounter to stay alive in the series which is a part of the ICC Test Championship.

TEAMS

Pakistan: Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali (capt), Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Yasir Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah

England: Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley, Joe Root (capt), Ollie Pope, Jos Butler (wk), Chris Woakes, Dom Bess, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad, James Anderson