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After a bomb blast prior to the first Test, gunshots were heard near England’s team hotel in Multan before the second Test. The disconcerting sounds were heard at a distance of 1km from the hotel on Thursday morning before the squad left their hotel for training at the ground. Local authorities reassured the team that they were in no danger.
It is understood that no one was injured in the incident while Pakistan police authorities made four arrests. England continued with their training session at the Multan Cricket Stadium half an hour away alongside the Pakistan team with an even greater military presence than what was seen in Rawalpindi.
"An England spokesman confirmed the teams security plans remained unaffected by the incident," reported the Mirror.
Coming to England's playing XI for the second Test, the Three Lions have made just one change to the team that beat Pakistan in an enthralling first Test. Mark Wood replaces the injured Liam Livingstone while Ollie Pope keeps the gloves despite Ben Foakes being fit enough to return.
England captain Ben Stokes insisted though that Foakes is the best wicketkeeper in the world, and only picked Pope due to the expected reduced time for the Test and the fact he did so well in the first game.
"It's just for this Test match. Foakesy still is the number one gloveman in England and I will still keep saying that he's the best keeper in the world. It must sound a bit silly to not be picking him, but you've got to look at the conditions we face out here.
"We didn't have any of this on our radar before we started the first Test match. It is with the illness that Foakesy, unfortunately, had which allowed us to think like this. This is definitely no sign of Ben Foakes' future going forward and in the dressing room."