PAK vs ENG: Centuries from Masood and Shafique propel Pakistan to 298/3 in solid start

Day 1, Session 3; Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel currently are on the field

In the first Test against England currently being played in Multan, Pakistan lost three wickets, Abdullah Shafique was dismissed after scoring 102 runs off 184 balls, and captain Shan Masood followed shortly after, making 151 runs off 177 balls.

Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel are now at the crease, with Pakistan's score standing at 289 runs for the loss of 3 wickets after 74.2 overs.

Pakistan lost opener Saim Ayub for 4 runs off 10 balls, caught by Jamie Smith off a delivery from Gus Atkinson in the first Test against England currently being played in Multan.

Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first against the host team.

Captain Shan Masood stated that the team aims to put up a big score, acknowledging that it's been a long time since they've won. He also mentioned that Pakistan will be playing with three fast bowlers and two spinners.

England's Ollie Pope mentioned that the pitch has moisture, so they will be aiming to take early wickets. He added that if England had won the toss, they would have chosen to bat first as well.

It's worth noting that both teams have won one Test each against each other in Multan. Before this, Bangladesh had whitewashed Pakistan in a two-match Test series on their home soil.

Pakistan's Playing XI for first Test:

Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (C), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel (VC), Mohammad Rizwan (Wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Abrar Ahmad.

England Playing XI for first Test:

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (C), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse (Debut), Jack Leach, and Shoaib Bashir.