England in Pakistan: Hosts want another spinning pitch in Rawalpindi for series decider

England lost their eight remaining wickets before lunch on Friday morning to be dismissed for 144 in pursuit of 297.

Captain Ben Stokes stopped short of criticising the surface but said Pakistan winning the toss was a “massive” factor.

“They used the home conditions in their favour,” he said.

“If we had won the toss it could have been completely different and it would have looked like a silly decision.

“The toss was always going to be massive, me and Shan knew that.”

Despite the defeat, Stokes said England’s fourth-innings score was “pretty decent” on the surface.

England fell behind the game when they conceded a 75-run deficit after the first innings and then when Jamie Smith and Joe Root dropped Salman Ali Agha, who went on to make 63, in the space of three balls in the second innings when Pakistan’s lead was below 200.

Stokes was visibly frustrated on the field after the second missed chance, for which he said he has apologised to the team.

“It’s the first time in my captaincy that I’ve let my emotions about the game and how it was unfolding show with my body language,” Stokes told Sky Sports.

“I own up to that and I’m very annoyed with myself for letting that out. It’s something I don’t want to do or be seen to be doing so I apologised to the group.

“I was a tired, grumpy old man but you won’t see that again.”

Victory for Pakistan was their first at home since 2021 and their first under Masood in his seventh match as captain.

“That’s not acceptable for Pakistan cricket,” the batter said. “We pride ourselves on how well we play this game and how we see ourselves as a team.

“Hopefully we can start something here in home conditions.”