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Debutant Kamran Ghulam and young opener Saim Ayub stabilized Pakistan's shaky innings on the first day of the second Test after captain Shan Masood won the toss and chose to bat first on a spin-friendly surface in Multan Cricket Ground in Multan against England. Pakistan scored 259 runs on Day 1 of the second Test match.
England spinner Jack Leach made an early impact, claiming the wickets of Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique and skipper Shan Masood within the first hour of play. His double strike left Pakistan at 19-2 during the tenth over, prompting debutant Kamran Ghulam to join forces with the unbeaten opener Saim Ayub.
Ayub and Ghulam steadied the innings, remaining not out at 40 and 29, respectively. Together, they forged a 60-run partnership for the third wicket, guiding Pakistan to a more secure position at 79-2 by the end of the first session, which lasted 29 overs.
Ayub and Ghulam both slammed half-centuries and nearly batted through the entire second session. After forming a resilient 149-run partnership for the third wicket, left-handed Ayub fell short of his maiden Test century, caught by Ben Stokes at short mid-off off the bowling of Matthew Potts. Nonetheless, the 22-year-old registered a career-best score of 77 runs from 160 balls, featuring seven boundaries.
Kamran Ghulam, who scored his maiden Test half-century on debut, reached 75 not out alongside unbeaten Saud Shakeel, who had 4 runs, as Pakistan moved to 173-3 by the Tea break after 57 overs.
However, Shakeel fell early in the final session, nicking a delivery from Brydon Carse to Jamie Smith. Despite this setback, a determined Kamran Ghulam continued to impress, eventually securing his first Test century while building a 50-plus partnership with senior teammate Mohammad Rizwan.
Ghulam struck 11 boundaries and a six during his impressive 118-run innings off 224 balls before being dismissed by visiting spinner Shoaib Bashir. Mohammad Rizwan, not out on 37, batted through the remaining six overs of the day alongside in-form Agha Salman, who contributed 5 runs, helping Pakistan reach 259-5 by stumps.
