Pakistan vs England: Shan Masood silences critics with 1st century as Test captain

Pakistan vs England, 1st Test: Shan Masood hit his first Test hundred as captain, proving his naysayers wrong on Day 1 of the series opener in Multan. Masood became only the third Test captain after Inzamam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam to hit a hundred against England at home.

In Short

• Shan Masood ended a 1524-day wait for his Test hundred
• He became the third Pakistan captain to hit a Test hundred at home against England
• Masood and Abdullah Shafique stitched a 200-plus stand for Pakistan in Multan

Shan Masood silenced his critics with a brisk hundred on Day 1 of the first Test between Pakistan and England in Multan on Monday, October 7. Having headed into the series under immense pressure and intense scrutiny from the local media, Shan Masood walked the talk, putting Pakistan in a position of strength on the first day of the hugely-anticipated Test series between two traditional rivals.

Shan Masood got to his hundred in just 102 deliveries as he bossed the England bowling attack on a hot day in Multan. The pitch at the Multan Cricket Stadium was heavily titled in favour of the batters and Shan made full use of it.

Multan Test, PAK vs ENG Updates

It was Shan Masood's first Test hundred as captain and his fifth in the longest format of the game. With the three-figure score in Multan, the elegant left-handed batter also ended a 1524-day wait for a century in whites for Pakistan.

Masood also became only the third Pakistan captain after Inzamam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam to hit a hundred in Tests against England at home.

TEST HUNDREDS BY PAKISTAN CAPTAINS AGAINST ENGLAND

• Javed Burki: 1 century (1962)
• Hanif Mohammad: 1 century (1967)
• Imran Khan: 1 century (1987)
• Javed Miandad: 1 century (1992)
• Inzamam-ul-Haq: 2 centuries (2005)
• Misbah-ul-Haq: 2 centuries (2015-2016)
• Azhar Ali: 1 century (2020)
• Babar Azam: 1 century (2022)
• Shan Masood: 1 century (2024)

Pakistan headed into the three-match series after losing to Bangladesh 2-0 at home last month. The team was severely criticised by fans and media and captain Shan Masood faced the heat during a media conference in Multan last week.

It did not go according to plan on Monday morning as Pakistan lost opener Saim Ayub for 4 as early as the fourth over after Shan Masood won the toss and opted to bat. However, Masood and opener Abdullah Shafique sitched a 200-plus stand to steer the team to a comfortable position by Tea. Both players kept the scoreboard moving at a brisk pace as Pakistan scored nearly at five runs per over in the first two sessions.

Shan Masood used his foot wonderfully well against the two England spinners -- Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir and negotiated the three-man pace attack of Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson and debutant Brydon Carse with ease. Masood hit 11 boundaries and two sixes before he went past 120 in an entertaining knock.