Pakistan used a warm‑up encounter to fine‑tune their preparations for the opening Test against England at Headingley, cruising to a seven‑wicket triumph over a County Select XI. The match, played at Beckenham, saw Saud Shakeel craft an unbeaten century while Imam ul‑Haq contributed a solid 80 runs, setting a formidable target for the visitors. Chasing 262 runs on the third and final day, Pakistan achieved the required total in 57.1 overs.
England’s left‑arm spinner Shoaib Bashir, who had earlier taken 4‑76 in 20.2 overs, bowled eight overs in the second innings for 0‑45, unable to make a breakthrough. Bashir hopes his performance will earn him a place in England’s XI for the Leeds Test, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. However, England may opt for an all‑pace attack, recalling Dan Lawrence—who will slot in at number six in the batting order—and relying on newly reinstated captain Joe Root to provide 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 fixture.
Gay was dismissed for a pair as the home side posted totals of 305 and 195, both all out. Fisher, on the other hand, displayed resilience with a quick‑fire unbeaten 62 off 53 balls in the first innings, before returning his bowler’s hat with figures of 1‑15 from 11 overs during Pakistan’s opening stand of 238. In Pakistan’s first innings, the highest score came from Abdullah Shafique, who made 61 runs.
The bowling department shone in the second innings, highlighted by left‑arm spinner Ali Usman’s five‑wicket haul, which proved pivotal in restricting the County Select XI. The visitors endured a moment of concern on day two when captain Babar Azam was forced to retire hurt after a delivery from the young Hampshire pacer Manny Lumsden struck his hand. Medical staff advised him to sit out the remainder of the match, but the Pakistan Cricket Board later confirmed that he would resume training at Headingley on Monday, indicating his recovery was on track.
After the win, Babar Azam reflected on the importance of the warm‑up game: "It’s an excellent preparation for us ahead of the Test. The pitch was a little tricky at the start but improved after a couple of days. We needed to get accustomed to the conditions and it’s great to go out and perform." He added that the surface at Beckenham was slightly dry with some turn, offering bounce, and that they expected different conditions in Leeds, so the team would continue to adapt their game plan accordingly.
The three‑match series between England and Pakistan will kick off on Wednesday, with the first ball scheduled for 11 a.m. at Headingley. Fans can watch the live action on Sky Sports Cricket and stream the coverage via NOW, which offers contract‑free access to cricket and other major sports.
Additional content such as the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, daily scorecards, and the Sky Sports app are also available for enthusiasts who want to stay up‑to‑date with every development throughout the series. Overall, the warm‑up victory not only boosted Pakistan’s confidence but also provided valuable insights into player form and pitch behaviour ahead of the high‑stakes Test series. With key players like Shakeel and Imam‑ul‑Haq finding the runs and bowlers like Ali Usman striking in the second innings, the touring side appears well‑prepared to challenge England on English soil.
The upcoming Tests promise a compelling contest between two competitive sides, each eager to claim the upper hand in what should be an enthralling cricketing showdown.