Pakistan used a warm‑up fixture at Headingley to fine‑tune their preparations for the opening Test against England, emerging victorious by seven wickets against a County Select XI. The match was anchored by a resilient century from Saud Shakeel, who remained unbeaten, and a solid 80 from Imam‑ul‑Haq, both of which set the tone for a confident display. The visitors were set a target of 262 runs to win on the third and final day in Beckenham. They chased down the total in 57.1 overs, with England spinner Shoaib Bashir delivering a mixed performance: after an impressive first‑innings spell of 4‑76 from 20.2 overs, he returned a more modest 0‑45 from eight overs in the second innings.
Bashir is hopeful that his all‑round contribution will earn him a place in England's XI for the Leeds Test, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The hosts, however, may opt for a purely pace‑driven attack, recalling Dan Lawrence—who will also bat at number six—and reinstating captain Joe Root as a spin option.
Among the England Test squad, opening batsman Emilio Gay and seam bowler Matt Fisher also featured in the Beckenham game, although both were released from duty on the final day. Gay struggled, recording a pair of ducks as the home side posted 305 all out in the first innings and 195 all out in the second. Fisher, on the other hand, contributed a brisk 62 not out off 53 balls in the hosts' first innings and then bowled 11 economical overs, taking 1‑15 in 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 later, with left‑arm spinner Ali Usman claiming a five‑wicket haul in the second innings, underscoring the depth of Pakistan’s bowling options. The tour was not without drama. On day two, captain Babar Azam was forced to retire hurt after a delivery from Hampshire youngster Manny Lumsden struck his hand. Medical staff advised him to sit out the remainder of the match, though a PCB statement confirmed that he would resume training at Headingley on Monday.
Babar later reflected on the warm‑up win, saying, "It’s a very good preparation for us to get ready for the Test. The pitch was a bit challenging early on but improved after a couple of days. We have to prepare ourselves for the game and it’s great to go out and perform." He added that the conditions in Leeds might differ, noting, "I’m not sure what the conditions will be like in the first Test, but seeing here it’s slightly dry and the ball was turning as well. That pitch will have some bounce there.
It will be slightly different in Leeds. We will be preparing accordingly." The three‑match series between England and Pakistan kicks 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 are also available to stream via NOW without a contract.
In addition to the live broadcast, listeners can tune into the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast for analysis and commentary, while the Sky Sports app offers on‑the‑go access to scores, news, and highlights. Overall, the warm‑up encounter served as a valuable rehearsal for Pakistan, allowing their batsmen to find rhythm and their bowlers to test variations under English conditions. The blend of experienced campaigners like Shakeel and emerging talents such as Imam‑ul‑Haq provides a balanced unit capable of adapting to the nuanced pitches they will face in the upcoming Tests. As the teams head to Leeds, both sides will be keen to translate the lessons learned in Beckenham into decisive performances on the grand stage of Test cricket.