PAK VS ENG - 3rd Test, England tour of Pakistan, 2024

Pakistan not only end their dismal 11 loss-streak at home but they’ve now also got a template for future home games. They’ve also rediscovered two previously discarded diamonds that probably had not had the right opportunities to shine till now. Sajid Khan and Nomal Ali not only bowled tirelessly and with a lot of heart to pick up 39 of the 40 wickets but they also showed that they could hold on to their own with the bat as well. Radical changes once more in Pakistan cricket but extremely effective this time around and that’ll give them a lot of confidence. England don’t come back to the subcontinent till 2027 so their shortcomings in this series will probably just simmer until then. Pakistan next head down to South Africa at the end of the year while England, like Stokes mentioned, go down to New Zealand next month. That’s it from us then, this is Anurag Hegde signing off on behalf of Pradeep Krishnamurthy and Praveen Kumar. Take care and goodbye.

Shan Masood | Pakistan Captain: London buses, they come together. First Test win came after a long time, now the series win. This means a lot for me, the players, the coaches and the management - they came through a lot. The character says a lot, this is a special moment and you can't take this off the team. Saud Shakeel, I can say that's one of the best hundred I've seen, 70 singles, what an effort, Sajid and Noman, what can I say about them. Zahid fielded well, Jamal, he might have created a world record of a pacer to have not bowled a single ball in the Test, the biggest point of satisfaction was that we had a change in conditions, we ourselves hadn't played on such challenging pitches before. We played in the UAE, but the challenge wasn't there on the first two days, like it was here. We have quality in our batting and bowling, the depth is there. I've always said that we need to take 20 wickets to win a Test and that's what we achieved here. The job comes up with responsibility (on captaincy). It's heartening to have young talents like Saim and Hurraira coming up, and seniors like Noman coming back into the set-up after a long time. We've had a lot of positives with the bat, Saud and Salman are growing as leaders. This series win is for the people of Pakistan who have suffered a lot with us, thankful for the English team, the contests between the two teams are always memorable and I wish we play more, possibly a 5-match series.

Ben Stokes | England Captain: Disappointing, losing games and losing series’. We weren’t able to match the challenges in the last two games, credit to Pakistan. Moving forward, we’ll look to match those challenges as we come up against them. Couple of weeks time, we’ll be up against New Zealand. The summer finished late, the lads worked really hard but when you get out there in the middle it’s all really different. All you can do is work hard. Whether you do well or not, you always try and take the positives out. Regardless of the result, there have been some unbelievable individual performances so certainly a lot to take out. You take that aspect and that look on it, Rehan and Bashir coming here to play cricket in front of family, it's something massive for them. They’re two incredible cricketers who’re just starting their career so it's massive for them.

Sajid Khan | Player of the Series: Thankful to god for the series win. There was no pressure as such, I was making a comeback, but there were people who backed me and I had played FC cricket. Off the field, I'm not like this, I'm funny, Kamran Ghulam is my best friend, but you need to behave like this to lift the team's morale. You didn't need to do anything in Multan (in the second Test), the pitch did everything. Here, you needed to vary your lengths and paces, we just did that. Noman bhai is one of the most experienced spinners in our country, he has been a great mate and has served well. He deserved this PoS award with me. Congrats to the nation for this win.

Saud Shakeel | Player of the Match: The pitch and situation was a bit difficult but if your plans are clear then it becomes easier, you have to back yourself. I enjoy the responsibility as vice captain. I have more fun playing against fast bowlers but as long as the runs are coming, that’s what matters. The way Noman and Sajid batted was dominating, they get a lot of credit. They dominated more than me.

Most wickets by spinners in a series in Pakistan
73 - PAK vs ENG, 2024/25
71 - PAK vs NZ, 1969/70
68 - PAK vs ENG, 2022/23
60 - PAK vs ENG, 1987/88

This is only second time Pakistan win a 3-match Test series after losing first Test match after their away series win against Zimbabwe in 1995.

This is first Test series win for Pakistan against England since Nov 2015.

Stat: First home series win for Pakistan since 2021 after 4 Test series.

Lots to ponder over for England. They turned up in Multan for the first Test and got exactly what they were expecting - a freshly paved highway. But thereafter, once they landed in a spinny bog, they had no answers. They competed but their batters couldn't quite stand up to the challenge and their spinners were nowhere nearly as effective as that of the opponents. Their batters only had to look across to how Saud Shakeel played in this game. His innings of 134 exemplified the technique and temperament required on such slow and turning tracks. While England dismissed Pakistan's top order quite cheaply in the first innings, they had no answers to Shakeel's tenacity and none too against the two spinners, Sajid and Noman, who made vital contributions with the bat as well as if their exploits with the ball weren't enough. Yes, Pakistan won this game but it really only was about those 3 players - Saud Shakeel, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali - them against England.

11:59 Local Time, 06:59 GMT, 12:29 IST: A very important and satisfying win this for Pakistan, it gives them their first series win at home since 2021 and it’s also their first under Shan Masood. Safe to say they’ll be as relieved as they’ll be happy. They took some bold calls after that crushing loss in the first Test. They dropped some of their stalwarts and took a radical approach towards preparing surfaces that would suit them and amidst much public scrutiny, delivered the results when their reputation was really on the line. In an extraordinary turnaround, Pakistan completely flipped the script by preparing two turners and at the forefront of their spin assault were two unlikely heroes - Sajid Khan and Noman Ali. Cast into the wilderness and then suddenly plucked out again, the two veteran spinners grabbed on to their, likely final, opportunity and were truly remarkable across the two games. They accounted for 39 of the 40 wickets across the two Tests and nearly bowled all of the overs as well.

Bashir to Masood, SIX, that will be it! Gets the win in emphatic fashion! Full outside off, Masood steps out again and lofts it clean over long-off this time. Pakistan win by 9 wickets

Jack Leach to Masood, 1 run, goes for the big hit but doesn't get it, full outside off, Masood darts down the track and drags it through wide mid-on, was looking to go down the ground again

6 needed to win and 1 ball to go

Jack Leach to Masood, FOUR, that's four in a row! Length delivery on leg-stump from round the wicket, Masood goes for the reverse-sweep again and he gets it through backward point

Jack Leach to Masood, FOUR, down the ground this time! Tossed up full on off-stump, Masood skips down the track and lofts it down to long-on, was off the toe end so it doesn't quite go all the way

Jack Leach to Masood, FOUR, back to back boundaries! Masood wants to get done with it, full on off-stump, Masood leans in and brings out the reverse-sweep, plays it nicely and it races away to the deep backward point ropes

Jack Leach to Masood, FOUR, positive start! Tossed up full on off-stump, Masood steps out and carves it over extra cover, starts with a boundary

Shan Masood, left handed bat, comes to the crease

Jack Leach to Saim Ayub, out Lbw!! Well well, England have got one here! Jack Leach looked like the only man who was fully convinced. Length delivery outside off, turns in towards off and beats the outside edge as Saim Ayub looks to defend in front of his pads, actually did him for a lack of turn there and hit him on the back thigh. Was very close to bat but UltraEdge confirms it's not involved, ball tracker turns up with three-reds and Saim Ayub has to go! No real celebrations from England quite obviously. Saim Ayub lbw b Jack Leach 8(5) [4s-2]