Pakistan steady as Saim Ayub, Kamran Ghulam dig in after Leach's double blow

**MULTAN:** Openers Saim Ayub and debutant Kamran Ghulam steadied the innings on the first day of the second Test at Multan Cricket Stadium, reaching 79-2 at lunch after some early setbacks.

Saim was unbeaten on 40, having shared a crucial 60-run partnership with Kamran, who scored 29*. England's Jack Leach made an early impact, dismissing opener Abdullah Shafique for 7 and captain Shan Masood for 3.

After five overs of seam bowling, England captain Ben Stokes turned to spin, and the decision paid off quickly. Leach dismissed Abdullah with a delivery that beat his tentative prod, uprooting the off-stump. In his following over, he got rid of Shan, who flicked a delivery from outside off-stump into the hands of Zak Crawley at short mid-wicket.

With Pakistan in a tough spot, Kamran came in for his first Test match and showed no nerves, stepping out against Leach and hitting the spinner for a six over his head.

England welcomed back Stokes, who had missed their comprehensive victory in the opening Test due to a hamstring injury. 

Stung by the innings defeat in the first Test, Pakistan made changes to their lineup, dropping out-of-form batter Babar Azam and frontline pacers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah.

Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first as they aimed to level the series after losing the first match of the three-match series.