England win toss, elect to bat first against Pakistan

Multan: England have won the toss and decided to bat first in the second Test against Pakistan in Multan. 

The second test of three-match series between Pakistan and England will start at 10:00 am Pakistan Standard Time.

England lead the series by 1-0.    

Meanwhile, Pakistan and England will start practice sessions from tomorrow.

Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf has been ruled out of the remainder of the test series against England. The 29-year old, who made his debut in the first test, stepped on the ball while fielding on the first day in Rawalpindi, leading to a Grade-II strain in his right quad.

Haris Rauf will now travel to Lahore where he will begin his rehabilitation at the National High Performance Centre.

Naseem Shah, who was visibly struggling with a shoulder issue during the first Test, is also sitting out the match for Pakistan, along with Azhar Ali, who had to retire hurt early in the second innings following a blow to the finger, and proved unable to shore up their batting when he returned on the final day.

England, meanwhile, have none of the concerns that dogged them at the same stage of the first Test, when a sickness bug nearly forced a 24-delay to the start of the game.

Despite the pre-match concerns about smog in Multan, the morning has dawned hazy but without any significant visibility issues, and play is set to begin on time.

Pakistan Squad 

Babar Azam (c), Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Agha Salman,  Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf,  Zahid Mahmood, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Ali.

England Squad 

Ben Stokes (c), Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Will Jacks, Ollie Robinson,  Jack Leach, Mark Wood, James Anderson.