Pakistan used a warm‑up fixture at Headingley to sharpen their skills before the opening Test against England, cruising to a seven‑wicket triumph over a County Select XI. The highlight of the match was a resilient unbeaten century from Saud Shakeel, complemented by a solid 80 from Imam‑ul‑Haq, which set the tone for a confident display.
The County Select side were set a target of 262 runs to win on the third and final day in Beckenham. The tourists chased the total comfortably, reaching it in 57.1 overs.
England’s spinner Shoaib Bashir, who had bowled a respectable 20.2‑over spell in the first innings and claimed 4‑76, returned for the second innings with figures of 0‑45 from eight overs. Bashir is eager to earn a place in England’s XI for the Leeds Test, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, although the home side may opt for a pace‑heavy attack, potentially recalling Dan Lawrence to bat at number six while captain Joe Root provides the spin option. England’s Test squad also featured opening batsman Emilio Gay and seam bowler Matt Fisher, both of whom participated in the Beckenham game.
Gay, however, was dismissed for a pair as the home side posted 305 all out in the first innings and 195 all out in the second. Fisher made a notable contribution with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 62 off 53 balls in the hosts’ first innings, and later recorded bowling figures of 1‑15 from 11 overs during Pakistan’s opening stand of 238. Pakistan’s innings were anchored by Abdullah Shafique, who top‑scored with 61 in the first innings. The spin department shone in the second innings, with left‑arm bowler Ali Usman producing a five‑wicket haul that helped dismantle the County side.
The match also featured a moment of drama when Pakistan captain Babar Azam was forced to retire hurt after a delivery from young Hampshire pacer Manny Lumsden struck his hand. Medical staff advised Babar to sit out the remainder of the game, but the Pakistan Cricket Board later confirmed that he would resume training at Headingley on Monday.
Following the victory, Babar Azam praised the warm‑up as essential preparation for the upcoming Test series. He said, "It’s a very good preparation for us to get ready for the Test.
The pitch was a bit challenging early on but it improved after a couple of days. We need to adapt, and it’s great to go out and perform." He added that the conditions in Leeds might differ, noting that the Headingley surface was slightly dry and offered turn, with some bounce, and that the team would adjust their game plan accordingly.
The three‑match Test series between England and Pakistan will kick off on Wednesday, with the first ball scheduled for 11 am at Headingley. Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports Cricket, and the matches will also be available for streaming via NOW.
In addition to the live broadcast, listeners can tune into the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast for in‑depth analysis, and all scorecards from today’s matches are accessible through the Sky Sports app, which can be downloaded for free. The warm‑up win not only boosted Pakistan’s confidence but also gave the team valuable insight into English conditions, allowing them to fine‑tune their strategies ahead of what promises to be a fiercely contested series.