Pakistan used a warm‑up fixture at Headingley to sharpen their preparations for the opening Test against England, emerging victorious by seven wickets against a County Select XI. The win was anchored by Saud Shakeel’s unbeaten century and Imam ul‑Haq’s solid 80‑run contribution, giving the visitors confidence ahead of the high‑profile series.
The match, played in Beckenham, saw the visitors set a target of 262 runs for the opposition on the third and final day. England’s spinner Shoaib Bashir, who had impressed in the first innings with figures of 4‑76 from 20.2 overs, bowled eight overs in the second innings, conceding just 45 runs without taking a wicket. Despite his efforts, the County Select side fell short, reaching the required total in 57.1 overs.
Bashir’s performance has put him in contention for a place in England’s XI for the upcoming Test at Leeds, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. However, England may opt for an all‑pace attack, potentially recalling Dan Lawrence, who is slated to bat at number six, while newly reinstated captain Joe Root could provide the spin option. Other England Test squad members who featured in the Beckenham game included opening batsman Emilio Gay and seam bowler Matt Fisher.
Both were released from the squad on the final day. Gay, unfortunately, recorded a pair of ducks as the home side posted totals of 305 all out and 195 all out. Fisher, on the other hand, contributed a brisk 62 not out off 53 balls in the first innings and later returned economical figures of 1‑15 from 11 overs when Pakistan began their reply with 238 runs. Pakistan’s innings were highlighted by Abdullah Shafique’s 61, which topped the scores in the first innings.
The bowling department shone as well, with left‑arm spinner Ali Usman delivering a five‑wicket haul in the second innings, further destabilising the opposition’s chase. A moment of tension arose on day two when Pakistan captain Babar Azam was forced to retire hurt after a delivery from Hampshire’s young pacer Manny Lumsden struck his hand.
Medical staff advised him to sit out the remainder of the match, though a statement from the Pakistan Cricket Board indicated that he would resume training at Headingley on Monday, preparing for the forthcoming Test. Following the victory over the County Select XI, Babar Azam reflected on the quality of the preparation: "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 have to prepare ourselves for the game and it’s great to go out and perform." He added his observations about the playing surface: "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‑Test series between England and Pakistan is set to commence 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, offering a contract‑free way to follow the series. Additional cricket content, including scorecards and podcasts, can be accessed through the Sky Sports app and the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast. The warm‑up win not only boosts Pakistan’s morale but also provides valuable insights into player form and pitch behavior, essential factors as both teams gear up for a competitive encounter in England.