Pakistan will lock horns against England in the first Test match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi on Thursday. England is touring Pakistan after 2005 and it is going to be a historic Test series between these two top teams.

The Three Lions had lost the three-match series 2-0 when they had last toured on these shores. On the other hand, Pakistan had lost their previous home series against Australia and they will look to bounce back stronger.

These two teams had faced each other in the T20 World Cup final but the Test format is a different kettle of fish.

England has been in good form in the recent past and they would want to carry the same. However, Mark Wood will miss the game due to hip injury.

England has played an aggressive brand of Test cricket in recent times and they would want to carry the same in Pakistan.

On the other hand, Shaheen Shah Afridi has been ruled out with a knee injury for Pakistan. Haris Rauf is expected to make his debut for the Babar Azam-led team. However, there is no doubt that spinners will play a key role for both teams.

Match Prediction: As they will be playing in their own conditions, Pakistan will start as favorites against England.

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel, Salman Agha, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Abrar Ahmed, Zahid Mahmood, Mohammad Nawaz, Azhar Ali, Mohammad Ali.

England Men’s Test squad for Pakistan tour: Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Will Jacks, Keaton Jennings, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Mark Wood, Rehan Ahmed