The England vs Pakistan 1st Test will open the three-match series on August 19, 2026, at Headingley in Leeds, with the match scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM local time (3:30 PM IST). The contest is part of the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship. England will enter the game with a major change in leadership, as Joe Root returns as Test captain permanently after Ben Stokes stepped away from Test cricket.
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ENG vs PAK Dream11 Prediction: Dream11 Team Today, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Injury Update - Pakistan Tour of England 2026, 1st Test

Root will lead the side at his home ground, while Marcus Trescothick is overseeing the team during the transition before Stephen Fleming takes over as England's Test head coach later in the year. The hosts have also brought back Ollie Pope, Dan Lawrence and Brydon Carse, while Jordan Cox is set to take the No. 3 position because Jacob Bethell is unavailable with a knee injury.
Pakistan, meanwhile, will arrive with Babar Azam as their appointed Test captain, although his participation in the opening match is uncertain after he hurt his right hand during the team's warm-up game. Pakistan are expected to make a final decision on his availability after assessing him closer to the match. As per our ENG vs PAK Dream11 prediction today match, Joe Root and Harry Brook will be the best fantasy picks for the home team.
England vs Pakistan Match Details
| Series | Pakistan Tour of England 2026 |
|---|---|
| Match | England vs Pakistan, 1st Test |
| Toss | To Be Updated |
| Venue | Headingley |
| City | Leeds |
| Match Start Time | 3:30 PM IST, 19th August, 2026 |
| Scorecard | ENG vs PAK 1st Test Scorecard |
| Live Streaming | SonyLiv |
ENG vs PAK Dream11 Team Today Stats

| Player | Team | Player’s Stats (Last Test Match) |
|---|---|---|
| Ben Duckett | England | 149 Runs |
| Jofra Archer | England | 6 Wickets |
| Abdulla Shafique | Pakistan | 164 Runs |
| Sajid Khan | Pakistan | 8 Wickets |
ENG vs PAK Toss Prediction
Joe Root returns as England's Test captain after the retirement of Ben Stokes, and he is expected to win the toss in the 1st Test match of the series and will look to bowl first at Headingley.
Record of Chasing Teams at Headingley
Headingley, Leeds is one of the best cricket stadiums in the world, and the chasing record at this venue suggests that the teams bowling first have been more successful at the venue, with 37 wins, while the side batting first have won on 29 occasions.
| Chasing Record | Winning% |
|---|---|
| Average | 56% |
ENG vs PAK Playing 11 (Probable)
| England Playing XI | Pakistan Playing 11 |
|---|---|
| Ben Duckett | Abdullah Shafique |
| Emilio Gay | Imam-ul-Haq |
| Jordan Cox | Shan Masood |
| Joe Root (c) | Babar Azam(c) |
| Harry Brook | Saud Shakeel |
| Jamie Smith(wk) | Mohammad Rizwan(wk) |
| Dan Lawrence | Salman Ali Agha |
| Gus Atkinson | Aamir Jamal |
| Jofra Archer | Sajid Khan |
| Josh Tongue | Mohammad Abbas |
| Shoaib Bashir | Mohammad Ali |
ENG vs PAK Top Run Scorers & Leading Wicket Takers
| Top Run Scorers | Joe Root and Abdullah Shafique |
|---|---|
| Leading Wicket Takers | Jofra Archer and Mohammad Abbas |
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ENG vs PAK Captain & Vice Captain Choices

| Captain | Joe Root and Babar Azam |
|---|---|
| Vice-Captain | Harry Brook and Abdullah Shafique |
Top Picks for ENG vs PAK Dream11 Prediction
| Player | Team | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Ben Duckett | England | Batter |
| Jofra Archer | England | Bowler |
Budget Picks for ENG vs PAK Dream11 Prediction
| Player | Team | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Abbas | Pakistan | Bowler |
| Shan Masood | Pakistan | Batter |
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Best Team for Dream11 Today's Match
- Keepers: J Smith
- Batters: B Azam, A Shafique, B Duckett, H Brook
- All-rounders: J Root (c), S Ali Agha
- Bowlers: J Archer, G Atkinson, M Abbas, M Ali
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Best Dream11 Team Today
- Keepers: M Rizwan, J Cox
- Batters: B Azam(c), H Brook(vc), S Masood
- All-rounders: J Root
- Bowlers: J Archer, B Carse, M Abbas, J Tongue, U Shah
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Note: Sportsdunia has prepared a fantasy team for the ENG vs PAK match based on their experience in fantasy cricket.
ENG vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Today (1st Test) Pakistan Tour of England Players to Avoid
- According to our ENG vs PAK Dream11 team prediction, Emilio Gay and Imam-ul-Haq are not in the best of form and can struggle to score runs, so they can be skipped in fantasy teams.
| Player | Dream11 Credits |
|---|---|
| Emilio Gay | 8.0 |
| Imam-ul-Haq | 8.0 |
ENG vs PAK Weather & Pitch Report at Headingley
- Headingley is likely to have cool and cloudy weather on August 19, with temperatures expected to stay around 20°C. There could also be a few showers during the day. The cloudy conditions may help fast bowlers get some swing and movement with the new ball. The Headingley pitch usually offers good pace, bounce and carry, making it useful for both fast bowlers and batters.
| Temperature | 20°C |
|---|---|
| Weather Forecast | Partly Cloudy |
| Pitch Behaviour | Balanced Pitch |
| Best Suited To | Batters |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 300 Runs |
ENG vs PAK H2H Records
England and Pakistan have played 92 Test matches against each other. England have won 30 matches, while Pakistan have won 23, with 39 Tests ending in a draw. The two teams last met in a Test series in 2024, when Pakistan won the final two matches after England had taken the first Test.
| Team | Matches Won |
|---|---|
| England (ENG) | 30 |
| Pakistan (PAK) | 23 |
| Draw | 39 |
Disclaimer: This team is based on the analysis, calculated odds, and past experience of the author. While selecting your team, consider the analysis only as supporting data while making your own decision. Sportsdunia does not work with insider news and will not be responsible for any monetary loss to the users following the analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will win the 1st Test of the Pakistan Tour of England 2026?
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Who will win the 1st Test of the Pakistan Tour of England 2026?
England is likely to win the 1st Test of the series.
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