3 Pakistan players to watch out for in the England Tests

Pakistan are set to face England in a three-match Test series that forms part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-2027 cycle. The first Test begins at Headingley, Leeds, on August 19, with the second at Lord’s from August 27 and the third at Edgbaston from September 9.

Pakistan are entering this series having drawn their recent series against the West Indies 1-1, levelling it after recording a win in the second Test. They currently sit eighth in the World Test Championship standings, with England placed seventh. They have players who could pose a genuine threat to the English side.

Here are 3 Pakistan players to watch out for in England Tests:

3. Shan Masood

Shan Masood suffered a finger injury during the opening Test of Pakistan’s series against the West Indies in the Caribbean, which kept him out of the second Test. He was confirmed to be training with the squad and appeared on track to return for the first Test at Headingley. His return would come as a relief for the Pakistan side.

Masood has previously played county cricket in England, including stints with Yorkshire and Derbyshire, giving him familiarity with English conditions. With Babar Azam unavailable for the first Test, Masood is expected to serve as the senior batter in the side and will be looked upon to anchor the innings. He comes into the series in good form, having scored a brilliant century in the first Test in the West Indies.

2. Abdullah Shafique

Abdullah Shafique made his return to Pakistan’s Test side after Masood’s injury in the Caribbean. The opening batter has a stellar record in Tests, scoring 1,794 runs in 25 matches, averaging 41.72. He did suffer a lean run in his last few Tests, but marked his return with a stellar unbeaten 160 in Pakistan’s win over the West Indies in the second Test.

He was able to manage a score of 61 in the warm-up game against the Professional County Club Select XI, which the visitors won. Shafique is trying to climb his way back up the pecking order of the side and will be looking to get big scores in the series to cement his place in the side.

1. Mohammad Abbas

Mohammad Abbas could hold the cards for Pakistan in this series. As the leader of the side’s attack, Abbas would be expected to put on further displays of his potency with the new ball. He picked up eight wickets in the first Test against the West Indies, which included a five-wicket haul in the second innings. He picked up three wickets in the warm-up match but went wicketless in the first innings.

Abbas has experience playing in England for Hampshire and Leicestershire and holds a strong record in first-class cricket of 897 wickets at a miserly average of 20.39. He is capable of moving the new ball in both directions and generating reverse swing, which, along with his impeccable accuracy of length, could pose problems for England’s batting lineup.