SOUTHAMPTON: Pakistan’s captain Azhar Ali called correctly at the toss and chose to make first use of the pitch on a hot, clear afternoon at the Ageas Bowl, venue for the first ODI of the series. For England, Mark Wood was handed his first international cap since the tour of the UAE last year. There was no place in the Pakistan XI for Yasir Shah, leading wicket-taker during the Test series with England, with only one change to the side that hammered Ireland by 255 runs last week: Wahab Riaz replacing the debutant seamer Hasan Ali. That meant two slow left-arm all-rounders in the side, with Mohammad Nawaz winning his second cap alongside Imad Wasim in the middle order. Should the pitch take turn as the day progresses, Pakistan also have Shoaib Malik’s offbreaks to call upon. England’s team was largely as expected, although there were several changes to the side that beat Sri Lanka in Cardiff in July. Ben Stokes makes his first ODI appearance of the summer, playing as a specialist batsman at the expense of Jonny Bairstow, while James Vince – who is not in the squad – David Willey and Chris Jordan all dropped out; Alex Hales, Moeen Ali and Wood coming in. Jos Buttler was also passed fit to keep wicket after six weeks out with thumb fracture. Heavy rain forced players and umpires off the field right after Pakistan wicketkeeper batsman Sarfraz Ahmed scored fifty runs against England in the first of the five-match One-Day International series. The wicketkeeper batsman put up 46-run stand with veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik before the latter handed an easy catch to mid-off when Pakistan were 224 for five in 44-overs. All was going well until rain delayed the match for a short period of time. Pakistan lost the built momentum and Malik became Liam Plunkett’s first scalp during the 44th over when he tried to time the ball over Adil Rashid’s head. Pakistan has made 241 runs for the loss of six wickets so far with the strike rate of 5.12. Mohammad Nawaz (12) and Imad Wasim (5) are on the crease. Pakistan is playing its first match of ODI series against England in Southampton.