After making sweeping changes to the squad for the remaining two Tests of the series, Pakistan have announced their XI for the second Test one day ahead of the game in Multan.

Babar Azam has been replaced by 29-year-old all-rounder Kamran Ghulam, who has represented Pakistan in one ODI so far. The batting lineup has seen no other change, but the composition of the bowling attack has turned almost upside down with as many as four spinners being named in the XI.

Left-arm spinner Noman Ali and off-spinner Sajid Khan have both made a return to the XI as Abrar Ahmed has not made the cut after suffering from dengue fever. A third returning spinner joins Ali and Sajid in the form of 36-year-old Zahid Mahmood. The leg-spinner has played two Tests previously for Pakistan, both coming in their previous home Test series against the same opponents two years back. Salman Ali Agha, who scored a hundred in the first innings of the first Test, completes the four-pronged spin attack.

With the pitch for the second game confirmed to be the same as the one that was used for the first Test, Pakistan are clearly expecting it to turn early into the Test. Interestingly, however, none of the four spinners they have picked average less than 30 with the ball in their Test careers.

England, on the other hand, have stuck to a similar composition to the one that played in the first Test. Ben Stokes has replaced Chris Woakes, and Matthew Potts has replaced Gus Atkinson keeping the attack balance to three seamers and two spinners.

Pakistan XI for second Multan Test vs England

Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (c), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel (vc), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mahmood.

More to follow...

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