On the first day of the third and final test match between Pakistan and England, Babar Azam, captain of Pakistan, won the toss and elected to bat first. The match is being played at the National Stadium in Karachi.
After losing the first match in Rawalpindi by 74 runs and the second match in Multan by 26, Pakistan is currently in a losing position in the three-match series.
On the day before the Karachi Test, Babar Azam practised his batting at the National Stadium. It was there that he was bowled out by Saqlain Mushtaq, the head coach of the Pakistan cricket team and a great spin bowler, who turned back the clock with an outstanding delivery.
Babar Azam attempted to play a reverse-sweep, but Saqlain’s angled delivery turned in sharply before knocking down the stumps. After being startled, Babar turned his attention back to Saqlain before continuing the training.
Ben Foakes, who will play wicketkeeper for England, and Rehan Ahmed, who will take the position of James Anderson and Will Jacks, were the two players who were replaced by England after the previous test.
The previous record for youngest player to debut for England was held by Brian Close, who did so at 18 years and 149 days. Rehan broke this record by becoming the youngest player to debut for England at the age of 18 years and 126 days.
The veteran Pakistani batter Azhar Ali, who said on Friday that the Karachi Test would be his final match, is one of the four players who have been replaced in the home side’s lineup.
Shan Masood, Mohammad Wasim Junior, and Nauman Ali are also included in the squad, although Imam-ul-Haq (who is injured), Mohammad Nawaz, Zahid Mahmood, and Mohammad Ali were not. Wasim, who is 21 years old, is participating in his first test.