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Shahid Afridi (Source - Twitter)
The first Test between Pakistan and England in Rawalpindi started on December 1, Thursday, as scheduled after the visitors passed a medical assessment on the morning of the match. However, changes were made to the playing XI after England announced the team 48 hours ahead of the match.
Lancashire all-rounder Liam Livingstone got an opportunity to make his Test debut in the first match of the series, while opener Ben Duckett was recalled for his first Test in six years. England are on their first Test tour of Pakistan in 17 years, following their 20-20 side playing seven matches in the country two months ago, taking the series 4-3.
Talking about the England skipper Ben Stokes, on Monday, he announced that he will be donating his match fees from the upcoming Test series against Pakistan to flood victims.
“To be here after 17 years as a Test side is very exciting. There is a sense of responsibility amongst the playing and support group, and to be here is special, The game has given me a lot in my life and I feel it’s only right to give something back that goes beyond cricket,” he wrote.
'When we went to India for the World Cup, I was captain. And I said...': Shahid Afridi
Stokes received so much appreciation for his warm gesture from the fans and some Ex-cricketers as well. Former Pakistan Shahid Afridi also talked about the same during an interview.
"I've always believed in that. When we went to India for the World Cup, I was there as a captain of the side. And I had said that the respect we get from India, we don't even get that from Pakistan. It was a positive message because of the situation at that time. There were doubts over whether we would travel to India. As an athlete, the whole world watches you. You always want keep your country's reputation intact," said Afridi on Samaa TV.
“Ben Stokes' gesture was amazing, it was a nice message. Such things should happen more often, the players are more friendly now. International players now share the dressing room together,” he added.