PAK vs ENG 2024: Shan Masood becomes 17th Pakistan captain to score Test century. (Source – Getty Images)
Hosts Pakistan took on England on Day 1 in the first Test at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on October 7. Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first on a flat track. After losing opener Saim Ayub cheaply, Shan Masood paired up with Abdullah Shafique for a 253-run stand for the second wicket. Masood looked in great touch and made the most of the batter-friendly pitch to bring his fifth Test ton.
He scored 151 off 177 balls, laced with 13 boundaries and two maximums. While doing so, he became the 17th Pakistan captain to score a Test ton. Masood has joined the illustrious list where Pakistan stalwarts are named. Former Pakistan skipper, Misbah-Ul-Haq tops the list with eight three-figure marks, and he is followed by Inzamam-ul-Haq with seven centuries as a captain.
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Masood was under the radar as a captain after the team lost the Test series to Bangladesh by 0-2 at home. His prowess as a batter was also questioned meanwhile. Masood succeeded one of Pakistan’s most sought-after batters, Babar Azam. The former Pakistan skipper shares the fourth spot with as many tons as captain, along with Hanif Mohammad.
For the unversed, England are in Pakistan for the three-match Test series and the last time the English visited the country, they whitewashed the hosts 3-0.
Centuries as Test captain for Pakistan:
| Player | Span | Centuries |
| Misbah-ul-Haq | 2011-2016 | 8 |
| Inzamam-ul-Haq | 2004-2006 | 7 |
| Imran Khan | 1983-1990 | 5 |
| Javed Miandad | 1980-1992 | 5 |
| Babar Azam | 2022-2022 | 4 |
| Hanif Mohammad | 1964-1967 | 4 |
| Mushtaq Mohammad | 1976-1977 | 3 |
| Saleem Malik | 1994-1994 | 3 |
| Azhar Ali | 2019-2020 | 2 |
| Younis Khan | 2007-2009 | 2 |
| Aamer Sohail | 1998-1998 | 1 |
| Javed Burki | 1962-1962 | 1 |
| Mohammad Yousuf | 2004-2004 | 1 |
| Saeed Anwar | 1996-1996 | 1 |
| Shan Masood | 2024-2024 | 1 |
| Wasim Akram | 1996-1996 | 1 |
| Zaheer Abbas | 1984-1984 | 1 |
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