[Watch] Shan Masood scores his first hundred as Pakistan captain on Day 1 of PAK vs ENG 2024 1st Test

Shan Masood reached his fifth Test hundred as he led from the front on Day one of the first Test against England at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Monday, October 7.

The occasion came in the 38th over of Pakistan's first innings as Ollie Pope threw the ball to Chris Woakes. Masood carted the first ball of the over for a boundary, followed by a couple and two dots. The southpaw got to the magical three-figure mark with a run to deep square leg, making it his first Test century since August 2020. He reached the milestone off just 102 deliveries.

It was also Shan Masood's first century since becoming Test captain ahead of the tour of Australia last year.

Earlier in the day, the hosts won the toss and Masood opted to bat. Gus Atkinson got rid of Saim Ayub in the fourth over, but England's bowling unit has had to toil since that breakthrough.

---

Shan Masood hoping to win his first Test as captain

Pakistan v England Test Series Press Conference - Source: Getty

Masood, meanwhile, is still hoping to clinch his first victory as captain, having lost all of his first five Tests since December 2023. The lowest point came when Pakistan were swept 0-2 by Bangladesh at home recently.

With a hundred from the skipper and a half-century from Abdullah Shafique, Masood would aim for his first Test win as Pakistan captain. The sub-continent team has also been winless in a home Test since 2021.

England named their playing XI two days before the start of the three-Test series. However, Ben Stokes, who plotted England's 3-0 series sweep in Pakistan in 2022, was ruled out of the fixture as he continued his recovery from the hamstring injury. Ollie Pope continues to serve as the stand-in skipper.