Multan: Skipper Shan Masood and opener Abdullah Shafique both cracked centuries as Pakistan scored an impressive 328-4 on the opening day of the first Test against England in Multan on Monday.
Masood’s brilliant 151 was his first hundred for four years, while Shafique also returned to form with 102 as the pair put on a solid 253-run stand for the second wicket after Pakistan won the toss and batted.
England, led by Ollie Pope in the absence of the injured Ben Stokes, briefly fought back when they removed both Masood and Shafique in the space of just two runs in the third session.
The visitors took the second new ball at 308-3 and dismissed Babar Azam, trapped leg-before by fast bowler Chris Woakes for 30. Saud Shakeel was unbeaten on 35 at the close of play with nightwatchman Naseem Shah yet to score.
England’s attack toiled hard in the Multan heat, with fast bowler Gus Atkinson the most successful with 2-70. Woakes and spinner Jack Leach both took a wicket each.
Masood had been under pressure to make runs, with his last hundred coming against the same opponents at Manchester in 2020 — 14 Tests and 27 innings ago.
He pushed Woakes for a single to complete his fifth Test hundred off just 102 balls with two sixes and 13 fours in a dominant display of batting.
Shafique was equally assured as the pair made England’s three-pronged pace attack and two spinners toil on a batting-friendly pitch.
England took a wicket in the fourth over when Atkinson forced opener Saim Ayub to glove a shorter ball down the leg side to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith with the total on eight.
The visitors thought they had a second when pace bowler Brydon Carse, on debut, trapped Masood in front on 16 and umpire Kumar Dharmasena gave him out.
However, a review showed the ball had pitched outside the leg stump.
Masood went on the attack against Shoaib Bashir, hitting the off-spinner for four boundaries before two more off Atkinson took him to his 11th Test fifty.
Shafique survived being run out on 34 when Pope missed the stumps with his diving throw with the batsman well short of his ground. He smashed two fours and a six off Bashir to reach his sixth Test half-century.
Both teams have picked three fast bowlers and two spinners, hoping that the pitch will offer new-ball help to the seamers before taking spin later in the match.
The remaining Tests are in Multan (October 15-19) and Rawalpindi (October 24-28).
Masood, Abdullah centuries lift Pakistan to 328-4 in first England Test
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Masood, Abdullah centuries lift Pakistan to 328-4 in first England Test
- Masood’s brilliant 151 was his first hundred for four years, while Shafique also returned to form with 102
- England briefly fought back as they removed both Masood, Shafique in space of just two runs in third session
Pakistan moves to end week-long transport strike disrupting goods movement nationwide
- Federal delegation sent to Karachi as talks intensify with transporters
- Strike over axle loads and tolls has hit supply chains and economic activity
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s federal government on Monday stepped up efforts to end an over week-long strike by goods transporters that has disrupted the movement of cargo across the country, directing a high-level delegation to hold urgent negotiations with transport unions in Karachi, according to an information ministry statement.
The strike, now in its eighth day, has slowed the flow of goods between ports, industrial centers and markets, raising concerns over supply chains in an economy heavily reliant on road transport for domestic trade and exports. Trucking is the backbone of Pakistan’s logistics system, moving food, fuel, raw materials and manufactured goods, and prolonged disruptions can quickly translate into higher costs and shortages.
Transport unions have been protesting against stricter enforcement of axle-load limits — legal caps on how much weight trucks can carry — as well as increases in toll taxes and what they describe as heavy-handed policing on highways and motorways.
The action comes at a sensitive time for Pakistan, which is trying to stabilize its economy under an International Monetary Fund-backed reform program that places emphasis on controlling inflation and improving fiscal discipline.
“Prolonged strikes cause losses to all stakeholders, particularly those associated with the transport sector,” Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan said while chairing a meeting with representatives of the Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance, according to the statement.
Transporters briefed the government on their concerns, including axle-load regulations, toll charges and enforcement practices.
The communications minister said the government was committed to resolving all legitimate issues “through dialogue and consultation” and confirmed that a five-member committee formed earlier had been tasked with finding a solution. He directed a senior delegation to immediately travel to Karachi to continue negotiations and seek a timely and amicable resolution.
The government also pledged to address issues related to driving licenses, road safety and accident prevention on a priority basis, while stressing that axle-load regulations were designed to protect national highways and improve long-term safety.
Representatives of the Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance expressed satisfaction over the progress of talks and assured the government of their cooperation, reaffirming their preference for constructive engagement, the statement said.
Authorities have warned that a prolonged transport shutdown could deepen economic disruptions, particularly by affecting port operations, industrial supply chains and the distribution of essential goods.
