Pakistan used a warm‑up fixture at Headingley on Wednesday to fine‑tune their preparations for the opening Test against England, emerging victorious by seven wickets over a County Select XI. The win was anchored by a resilient unbeaten century from Saud Shakeel and a solid 80 from Imam‑ul‑Haq, both of whom helped the visitors chase down the target with confidence. The County Select side set a modest total of 262 runs to win on the third and final day of the match held in Beckenham.
Pakistan’s chase was completed in 57.1 overs, with the bowlers delivering disciplined spells to keep the pressure on. England‑born spinner Shoaib Bashir, who had earlier taken 4 for 76 in the first innings, finished the second innings with figures of 0 for 45 from eight overs, a stark contrast to his earlier success.
Bashir is eager to earn a place in England’s XI for the upcoming Test at Leeds, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. However, the home side may opt for an all‑pace attack, recalling Dan Lawrence—who will bat at number six—and reinstating captain Joe Root as a spin option. The England Test squad also included opening batsman Emilio Gay and seam bowler Matt Fisher, both of whom featured in the Beckenham game before being released from duties on the final day. Gay struggled with the bat, recording a pair as England posted scores of 305 all out and 195 all out in their two innings.
Fisher, on the other hand, contributed a brisk 62 not out off 53 balls in the first innings and later returned figures of 1 for 15 from 11 overs when Pakistan began their reply with 238 runs. Pakistan’s top‑order contribution came from Abdullah Shafique, who made 61 in the first innings.
The spin department shone in the second innings, with left‑arm spinner Ali Usman claiming a five‑wicket haul, underscoring the effectiveness of Pakistan’s spin arsenal on the turning surface. A moment of concern arose on day two when Pakistan captain Babar Azam was forced to retire hurt after a delivery from Hampshire’s young quick Manny Lumsden struck his hand. Medical advice recommended that he sit out the remainder of the match, though the Pakistan Cricket Board later confirmed that he would resume training at Headingley on Monday, indicating confidence in his recovery. Following the win over the County Select XI, Babar Azam reflected on the value of the warm‑up: "It’s an excellent preparation for us ahead of the Test.
The pitch was a little tricky early on but improved after a couple of days. We need to get ready for the main game and it’s great to go out and perform." He added his observations about the playing conditions: "I’m not entirely sure how the conditions will be for the first Test, but here the surface was slightly dry and the ball was turning, offering some bounce as well.
Leeds will be a bit different, so we’ll adapt our preparations 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 action live on Sky Sports Cricket, and the matches will also be available for streaming via NOW, offering a contract‑free way to follow the cricket and other top sports. For those who enjoy listening to cricket analysis, the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast provides in‑depth discussions and insights. All the latest scorecards from today’s games are accessible through the Sky Sports app, which can be downloaded for convenient on‑the‑go updates. Overall, the warm‑up served as a crucial rehearsal for Pakistan, allowing key players to find form and gauge the English conditions.
With both teams fine‑tuning their strategies, the upcoming Test series promises a compelling contest between two strong cricketing nations.