Former England cricket team captain and esteemed commentator Nasser Hussain has urged caution as England prepares to face Pakistan in an upcoming Test series, describing the anticipated victory as "premature."
Speaking on the eve of the first Test, set to kick off on Monday, October 7, in Multan, Hussain acknowledged the current struggles of the Pakistan team but cautioned against complacency.
"The Pakistan team is not performing well in the current era, but it would be foolish to say that England will easily defeat Pakistan in the Test series," Hussain said.
The former England legend emphasized Pakistan's rich cricketing heritage and the fervor of its fans, who remain eager for their team to succeed despite recent challenges.
"Pakistan is a great cricket nation; there is a passion for cricket there, and the fans always want to see the team succeed," he said.
With the appointment of a new captain and coach, all eyes will be on Pakistan as they seek to rejuvenate their performance on the international stage.
"There is a new captain and a new coach, and everyone will be watching Pakistan to see how they lift their team," he concluded.
The three-match series promises to be a thrilling contest, with the second Test also taking place in Multan, starting October 15, before moving to Rawalpindi for the final match on October 24.
Pakistan squad for first Test against England: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), and Shaheen Shah Afridi, Zahid Mehmood.
Pakistan, England Test series schedule: