Pakistan run the risk of first-ever home series whitewash against rampaging England

KARACHI (Dunya News) - When Pakistan takes on a rampaging England in the third and final Test in Karachi starting on Saturday, they run the risk of suffering their first-ever home series whitewash.

The Babar Azam-led home squad is up against a team in excellent form, England, who have won eight of their last nine Test matches thanks to an aggressive style of play.

On their first Test tour of Pakistan since 2005, England won the first game in Rawalpindi by 74 runs before overcoming adversity to win the second game, which was played on Monday and ended in Multan, by just 26 runs.

Injury-hit Pakistan could lose their first-ever home series when they face an out-of-control England in the third and final Test, which begins on Saturday in Karachi.

England, a team in terrific form that has won eight of their past nine Test matches because to an aggressive style of play, will be up against the Babar Azam-led home team.

“We missed out on crucial chances in both the matches, which cost us,” said Azam. “But the boys are eager to bounce back and we enjoy a good record in Karachi, so I am pretty sure that we will bounce back.”

England’s victory in Multan was hard-earned because they were defending a 355-run target on a pitch that helped spinners on the first two days but slowed down on the third and fourth.

Express pacer Mark Wood grabbed 4-65, including the crucial wickets of Saud Shakeel (94) and Mohammad Nawaz (45), after the home team needed 157 for victory on the fourth day.

The win gave England their first series victory in Pakistan for 22 years, although they haven’t toured since 2005 because of security issues.

Although they have dismissed Pakistan in every innings so far, England’s victories have been built on their aggressive batting — dubbed “Bazball” after the nickname of new coach Brendan McCullum.

Setting big targets has given the bowlers time to dismiss the opposition and, while it is working so far, skipper Ben Stokes is being realistic.

“Coming to the subcontinent, it’s always a tough place to come and win,” Stokes said after the Multan victory.

“One thing we do is we stay in the moment. Basically just always stay in the moment.” With the series wrapped up and another spin-friendly pitch likely at Karachi’s National Stadium, England may bring in exciting, uncapped 18-year-old leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed for Will Jacks.

Pakistan are considering bringing back former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed to add experience to a faltering batting line-up, while bowler Mohammad Wasim Junior may debut in place of Mohammad Ali, who was wicketless in Multan.

England’s only 3-0 clean sweep in the sub-continent came against Sri Lanka in 2018, while Pakistan have never lost every match of a series at home against anyone.

Teams

Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel, Agha Salman, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Mohammad Ali, Zahid Mahmood, Abrar Ahmed, Nauman Ali

England: Ben Stokes (captain), James Anderson, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Will Jacks, Keaton Jennings, Jack Leach, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Mark Wood, Rehan Ahmed

With inputs from AFP