England’s sloppy start to winter ends in Pakistan defeat
England opened their winter tour with a lack‑luster loss to Pakistan in the one‑day tri‑series at Rawalpindi. Pakistan posted 302‑9 in their 50 overs, with Hasan Nawaz scoring a rapid 79 from 74 balls and Arafat Minhas adding 59 from 58. The left‑arm spinner Arafat also claimed six wickets for 40 runs, a record spell for a Pakistani spinner against England in an ODI.
England’s chase began well but quickly unraveled. Ben Duckett was dismissed for 45 after a top‑edge, and Tom Banton, who had made 57, was caught at mid‑wicket off Arafat’s delivery. The middle order collapsed as Harry Brook fell for five, bowled by Arafat, and Joe Root was dismissed by Naseem Shah. A series of dropped catches – Jordan Cox let three chances slip, including a catch on Arafat’s early innings – further dented England’s hopes. The side slumped to 215 all out, losing their final seven wickets for just 50 runs, with Gus Atkinson run out in the final over.
The victory gave Pakistan their second win from two matches, moving them close to the final, while England’s next game is against Sri Lanka at the same venue on Thursday, with both sides eager for a first win.
The defeat comes as England begins a busy winter schedule that includes tours of Australia, South Africa and Bangladesh, and it marks the start of a 21‑match ODI build‑up ahead of the 2027 World Cup in southern Africa. England have won three series earlier this year, but they were missing key players Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer and Jacob Bethell for this match.
Pakistan’s recovery after being 133‑5 in the 28th over highlighted their resilience. Nawaz’s six‑run slog on the first ball from Adil Rashid sparked a partnership that, together with Arafat’s spin and contributions from Faheem Ashraf, pushed the total beyond 300 on a flat pitch. Arafat’s spell in the second innings not only produced the best figures by a Pakistani spinner against England but also saw him run out Atkinson, sealing the win.
England’s batting collapse mirrored the challenges they may face at the World Cup, where chasing large totals under pressure is common. The loss was their first ODI defeat in Pakistan since 2005 and their first tri‑series ODI loss since 2015. With Buttler sidelined until at least the new year, wicketkeeper Jordan Cox will have opportunities to cement his place, while the performances of back‑up players like Sonny Baker, who was costly with the new ball, will be under scrutiny as the team looks to regroup before the next match.