Pakistan vs England Test Series 2024: A Historic Encounter at Multan Cricket Stadium
As the cricketing world gears up for the highly anticipated Test series between Pakistan and England, starting October 7, 2024, attention is drawn to the Multan Cricket Stadium—a venue with a rich history yet only six Test matches played in the last 24 years. The first Test was held here in 2001, with the latest encounter against England taking place in 2022. Ahead of this historic clash, we highlight three key points that underline the significance of Multan Cricket Stadium’s 23-year legacy.
England Set to Make History
In a remarkable twist of fate, the host nation, Pakistan, will face England for the third time at Multan Cricket Stadium during their seventh Test here. With this match, England will become the first foreign team to play three Tests at this venue, joining the ranks of Bangladesh, which has played two Tests in Multan.
Historical Performance at Multan
Since its inception, Multan Cricket Stadium has hosted six Tests from 2001 to 2022. Pakistan has emerged victorious in three of these matches, suffered two defeats, and drawn one. The pitch has played a crucial role in these outcomes, proving to be a decisive factor time and again. If Pakistan loses this upcoming match, their win-loss ratio will equalize, whereas a win will bolster their standing.
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Recapping Multan’s Test Matches
- First Test (2001): Pakistan faced Bangladesh, winning by an innings and 264 runs. Dinesh Kaneria’s extraordinary performance, claiming 12 wickets for 94 runs, highlighted the match.
- Second Test (2003): A closely contested match against Bangladesh saw Pakistan winning by just one wicket. Inzamam-ul-Haq’s heroic 138 runs in the final moments of the game secured a thrilling victory.
- First Loss (2004): India’s tour of Pakistan marked a significant moment as Pakistan faced their first defeat at Multan, losing by an innings and 52 runs. Virender Sehwag’s historic 309 runs set the stage for this defeat.
- England’s First Encounter (2005): England debuted at Multan and faced defeat in a nail-biting match, with Pakistan winning by 22 runs. This game was pivotal as it marked England’s first experience at this challenging venue.
- The Draw (2006): Pakistan faced West Indies in a match that ended in a draw, marking the first drawn Test in Multan’s history.
- Recent Test (2022): England returned to Multan, this time taking the win by 26 runs, avenging their earlier loss in 2005 and marking a significant chapter in the venue’s history.
Key Traditions and Insights
The six Tests played at Multan reveal several important traditions and insights:
- In every match, the team winning the toss chose to bat first, emphasizing the belief that batting in the first innings is crucial for success in the challenging conditions of the fourth innings.
- The pitch has consistently provided opportunities for both spin and pace bowlers, proving its versatility.
- Historical patterns show that matches played during warmer weather conditions tend to favor the Pakistani team, suggesting that the upcoming Test in October could impact the pitch behavior favorably.
As the excitement builds for the series, all eyes will be on the toss, which could prove decisive in determining the match outcome. With a storied past and a thrilling present, the Pakistan vs England Test series promises to be an unforgettable chapter in cricketing history.
Test Records at Multan Cricket Stadium
Highest Total:
The record for the highest total at Multan Cricket Stadium belongs to India, who posted an impressive 675 for 5 against Pakistan in March 2004. This monumental score was bolstered by Virender Sehwag’s remarkable triple-century (309 runs) and a solid 194 runs from Sachin Tendulkar, achieved over just two days of play. West Indies follow in second place with 591 runs, while Pakistan’s highest total here stands at 546 for 3.
Lowest Total:
Bangladesh holds the unfortunate record for the three lowest totals at this venue, with scores of 134, 148, and 154. Pakistan’s lowest total at Multan is 175, which they scored against Bangladesh in September 2003. England also struggled, being bowled out for 175 by Pakistan in November 2005.
Highest Individual Score:
Virender Sehwag also claims the title for the highest individual score at Multan Cricket Stadium, having smashed 309 runs off 375 deliveries during the same historic match in March 2004. This innings featured 39 fours and six sixes, making him the only player to score a triple-century in Test history at this venue. West Indies’ Brian Lara is the only other player to achieve a double-century here, scoring 216 runs from 262 balls in November 2006. Mohammad Yousuf boasts the most 100+ scores, totaling three centuries.
Best Bowling Figures:
Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed recorded the best bowling figures at Multan, taking seven wickets for 114 runs in his debut match against England in December 2022. Danish Kaneria and Anil Kumble have each taken six wickets in an innings at this stadium. Kaneria accomplished this feat twice during a match against Bangladesh in August 2001, while Kumble’s performance of six wickets helped India secure a victory by an innings and 52 runs against Pakistan in March 2004.
Most Runs:
The title for most runs scored in Tests at Multan Cricket Stadium is held by former Pakistan middle-order batter Mohammad Yousuf, who amassed 517 runs at an impressive average of 86.16. Notably, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Virender Sehwag are also among the leading run-scorers at this venue.
Most Wickets:
Danish Kaneria leads the wicket-taking charts at Multan Cricket Stadium, having claimed 22 wickets in just three matches. He recorded three five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul during his appearances here. Shabbir Ahmed, with 12 wickets, is the only other bowler to surpass ten wickets at this ground in Test matches.
Highest Partnership:
The highest partnership in Test cricket at Multan was forged between Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, who combined for a staggering 336 runs for the third wicket against Pakistan in March 2004. Brian Lara and Dwayne Bravo are notable for registering the only other double-century partnership at this venue, accumulating 200 runs in November 2006.
