England Faces Tough Challenge

Coach Brendon McCullum acknowledged that England understands the difficulty of their upcoming Test series in Pakistan, even after their dominant 3-0 victory in 2022. This win marked the first time any visiting team had swept a series in Pakistan, contributing to the hosts' ongoing 10-match winless streak at home.

England heads into the first Test in Multan without their injured captain, Ben Stokes, and of their three pace bowlers, only Chris Woakes has previous experience in Asian conditions. With temperatures soaring to around 36 degrees Celsius and the Multan pitch expected to have a hint of green, England is preparing for a much different environment compared to their last trip, when cooler weather and flatter pitches aided their seamers.

The tourists are once again skipping warm-up matches, following a long home season that concluded just last weekend after a white-ball series against Australia.

Despite the challenges, McCullum told BBC Sport that the team remains optimistic. He insisted there would be no excuses if they fall short but admitted that winning in Pakistan is historically difficult. 

While Pakistan once boasted a formidable record on home soil, losing only two out of 13 series before a decade-long hiatus due to security concerns, their fortunes have since shifted. A defeat to Australia in early 2022 began their current winless streak, which is now the second-longest in their history for home Tests.

England's seamers were key to their success two years ago, but of the trio who contributed to that victory, James Anderson has retired, Ollie Robinson has been dropped, and Mark Wood is sidelined with an injury. In their place, Woakes, who hasn’t played an overseas Test in over two years, will join newcomers Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse, who will make his Test debut.

James Anderson, now retired from playing, has been assisting England’s bowlers as a fast-bowling consultant. However, he will not join the squad until day two of the first Test, as he is currently participating in the Dunhill Links pro-am golf tournament. McCullum expressed no concerns about Anderson's delayed arrival, noting that communication with the team remains strong and that the bowlers are well-prepared.

Meanwhile, England continues to manage the absence of Stokes, who will miss his fourth Test since suffering a hamstring injury in August. When asked about his potential return for the second Test, Stokes was uncertain about his availability. Ollie Pope will continue to captain in his absence and assured that he is mentally prepared to lead the team for the remainder of the series if necessary. Pope also suggested that when Stokes is fit, he will be able to contribute as both a batsman and a bowler.

On the Pakistani side, head coach Jason Gillespie has selected Aamer Jamal for the playing XI, with the all-rounder recovered from a back injury. He will join forces with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah in Pakistan's three-man pace attack.

Pakistan captain Shan Masood has faced a tough start, losing all five Tests since taking over the leadership in November. This includes a recent 2-0 series defeat at home to Bangladesh. Masood highlighted that the team is hurting but determined to make 2024 a better year for Pakistan cricket, focusing on consistency and positivity. He stressed the importance of backing the current squad and building a strong team mentality under Gillespie’s guidance, believing this approach will help them reverse their fortunes.