ENGLAND wicketkeeper Jamie Smith arrived in Pakistan without his pads.
And he had to be rescued by Test Match Special statto Andy Zaltzman.
England rookie Smith, 24, had been expecting a delivery of new equipment from sports kit manufacturers Gray-Nicolls.
But his plans were turned upside down when it emerged the gear might not arrive in Multan from India until Wednesday.
That’s two days after the start the First Test.
And, with the help of former England captain Sir Alastair Cook, Gray-Nicolls managed to contact Zaltsman, who is also a stand-up comedian and star of the current series of Taskmaster.
It led to Zaltsman being asked to take the pads on his flight out with the rest of the TMS crew on Friday to make sure they were with the gloveman ahead of Monday’s first day.
Zaltsman said: “It’s a huge responsibility I’m not sure I’m entirely ready for!
“Destiny deals you the cards and you have to play the hand you’re given.
“I’ll do my best to look after the pads in transit.
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“You can’t turn down an invitation to take an England wicketkeeper’s pads a third of the way around the world.”
It comes after Sky Sports stepped in to show the three-match series on TV.
There was set to be a blackout after the Test failed to find a home.
But Sky managed to strike a deal after the Pakistan Cricket Board lowered the rights fee.
The first Test runs from October 7-11, with the second Test between the 15th-19th and the third from the 24th-28th.
