Fawad returns as Pakistan opt to bat against England

Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first against England in the second Test being played in Southampton on Thursday.

The game also marked the long waited return of Fawad Alam in Pakistan colours in place of Shadab Khan, as Men in Green made one change to their playing XI from the first Test.

This is also the second longest gap between two Tests by a Pakistan batsman with 10 years and 258 days from 2009 to today. The record of longest game between the two appearances by a Pakistan batmen is held by Younis Ahmed. He waited for 17 years and 111 days, between 1969-1987, to make his Test comeback.

Meanwhile, Sam Curran and Zak Crawley are in for Ben Stokes, who ruled out Test series citing family reason, and Jofra Archer for England.

The home team is currently leading the three-match series 1-0 after securing a thrilling three-wicket win in the first Test at Old Trafford.

Teams

England (Playing XI): Rory Burns, Dominic Sibley, Zak Crawley, Joe Root(c), Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler(w), Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Dominic Bess, Stuart Broad, James Anderson

Pakistan (Playing XI): Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali(c), Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Yasir Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah