Pakistan, England are the deciding surface ahead of the Rawalpindi Test

RAWALPINDI: The pitch for the series-deciding Test between Pakistan and England is under scrutiny after large fans were installed in a bid to dry out the surface to repeat last week’s success in the third Test set starting on Thursday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium ( tomorrow).

Pakistan’s gamble of using the same pitch for a second consecutive game paid off in Multan as they cruised to a crushing 152-run victory last week to level the three-match series at 1-1.

The national side, in the second Multan Test, were helped by England’s 20-wicket haul from left-arm spinner Noman Ali and right-armer Sajid Khan as England collapsed to 144 chasing a tough target of 297 runs.

Inspired by their success in Multan, Pakistan deployed windbreaks, industrial-sized fans and patio heaters to dry out the lane – hoping to win their first series since beating South Africa in 2021.

England coach Brendon McCullum and skipper Ben Stokes inspected the pitch extensively ahead of the team’s training session on Tuesday.

“Everybody goes and looks at the wing and everybody says something different,” England batsman Harry Brook told reporters.

“Hopefully it’s like any other Pakistani ground and it’s good to fight for the first few days and then hopefully we can have some success at the back end of the game,” he observed.

Considering the prospect of a spin battle, the visitors have included bowler Rehan Ahmed as a third spinner, to complement Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir.

Fast bowler Gus Atkinson also comes in with the duo of Matthew Potts and Braydon Carse left out.

Pakistan are likely to keep the same second Test three-string combination with just one seamer.

“We are trying to have the same kind of pitch that can work in our favor as we want to win the match,” said left-hander Saud Shakeel.

The win in Multan was Pakistan’s first in 11 home Tests and came after England won the first, also in Multan, by an innings and 47 runs.