Lagatar24 Desk
Multan: In a historic defeat that stunned the cricket world, Pakistan lost to England by an innings and 47 runs in the Multan Test despite posting a formidable 556-run total in the first innings. England, in response, declared at 823/7, led by a brilliant double century from Joe Root and a staggering triple hundred from Harry Brook. Pakistan’s second innings collapse, where they managed just 220 runs, saw the team fall to a humiliating loss.
This defeat marks the first time in the 147-year history of Test cricket that a team has lost by an innings after scoring over 500 runs in the first innings.
Despite promising centuries from Abdullah Shafique, captain Shan Masood, and Agha Salman in the first innings, Pakistan’s bowling attack was unable to challenge England’s batters. England’s scoring was relentless, with the loss of their wickets attributed more to fatigue than to the Pakistani bowling.
In Pakistan’s second innings, Agha Salman fought hard with a knock of 63, while Aamer Jamal added a valiant 55 not out. However, Pakistan’s batting lineup faltered, and Abrar Ahmed could not take part as he was hospitalized, leaving Pakistan nine wickets down when the match ended.
Many critics believe the defeat was not just due to individual performances but also a lack of cohesive game strategy under captain Shan Masood. Key players such as Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah have struggled to find their form, further complicating Pakistan’s campaign.
This loss comes on the back of a disappointing 0-2 Test series defeat against Bangladesh, which many thought would serve as a wake-up call. However, Pakistan, once dominant in Asian conditions, continues to face significant challenges.
