Babar Azam and Agha Salam hit half-centuries as Pakistan were bowled out for 304 on day-one against England in the Karachi Test.

At stumps, England were 7-1 with Ben Duckett not out for four while Ollie Pope was unbeaten on three.

Abrar Ahmed took the only wicket of the England innings.

Earlier, Jack Leach bowled Abrar Ahmed (4) to end Pakistan’s first innings on Saturday. He ended up with the figures of four for 140.

Pakistan all-format captain Babar Azam once again showed his class as the hosts opted to bat. He scored 78 before talking a risky single only to end his brilliant innings.

He was well supported by Agha Salman, who played a blinder of 56. The right-hander struck six boundaries.

Teenage spinner Rehan Ahmed got his first wicket for England before Pakistan reached 204-5 at tea. After making history by becoming the youngest player to debut for the side at 16 years and 126 days, Ahmed dismissed Saud Shakeel in his seventh over for 23.

Shakeel failed to keep a defensive shot down as Ollie Pope dived forward to take a brilliant catch, one of two wickets Pakistan lost in the session.

Rehan ended up with the figures of two for 89 in the innings.

Azam and Shakeel added 45 for the fourth wicket. Azam has batted superbly, stroking eight boundaries so far.

Mohammad Rizwan also failed as he lofted a catch off a Joe Root full toss for 19.

In the first session Pakistan lost three wickets.

Azhar Ali – playing his last Test – fell at the stroke of lunch when he gloved a catch to a diving wicketkeeper Ben Foakes off pacer Ollie Robinson.

Azhar and Azam added 71 for the third wicket, repairing the innings after opener Abdullah Shafique fell for eight and Shan Masood 30.

Sensing the pitch would take spin, England started the attack with left-arm spinner Jack Leach, who trapped Shafique leg-before in the sixth over of the day.

Masood fell to the trap of short bowling as he pulled fast bowler Mark Wood straight into the hands of deep fine-leg fielder Leach.

Masood hit five boundaries while Azhar had six hits to the ropes.

Hard-pressed to avoid their first-ever whitewash in a home series, Pakistan made four changes with Azhar, Masood, Mohammad Wasim and Nauman Ali drafted in the side.

England, who lead the series 2-0, brought Foakes and Ahmed into the side.

Before Ahmed, Brian Close was the youngest England debutant at 18 years and 149 days when he played against New Zealand in 1949.