The thrilling conclusion of the Pakistan vs England Test series is set, with the final match determining the winner of the three-match contest. The 3rd Test between Pakistan and England kicks off in Rawalpindi on October 24.
Shan Masood captains Pakistan in this series, while Ollie Pope led England in the 1st Test before Ben Stokes returned to take charge in the second. England secured victory in the opening match, but Pakistan bounced back to level the series by winning the second Test.
Pakistan will continue to exclude Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah from the 3rd Test match.
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium Pitch Report
According to Pakistan Test team’s vice-captain Saud Shakeel, they will try to replicate the same pitch conditions that helped them win the 2nd Test against England in Multan. The pitch is expected to be spin-friendly, designed to put England under pressure and cause a ‘slow’ demise in the final and deciding match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Large heaters have been used to dry the surface, with the goal of creating spin-friendly conditions from Day 1.
“If you look at the difference between Multan and Pindi, there’s a difference of climate,” Shakeel said. “Multan is warmer than Pindi, Multan is warmer and more humid compared to Pindi. Pindi favours fast bowlers slightly and has more bounce, compared to Multan. The groundsman prepares according to that, and I think that’s what causes the changes in the pitch.”But the way the pitch looks and the success we got in the second Test, we’ll try for a similar kind of pitch that favours us and helps us win this game.”
ENG vs PAK 3rd Test squad
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (c), Mohammad Huraira, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (w), Agha Salman, Aamer Jamal, Mehran Mumtaz, Sajid Khan, Mohammad Ali, Kamran Ghulam, Noman Ali, Zahid Mahmood, Haseebullah Khan, Mir Hamza
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (w), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir, Rehan Ahmed, Jordan Cox, Matthew Potts, Olly Stone
