The cricket squads of Pakistan and England have officially landed in Islamabad, gearing up for the upcoming match. The third encounter of the series is set to take place at Rawalpindi Stadium, with both teams scheduled to commence their practice sessions tomorrow after taking a day of rest. Currently, the three-match Test series stands level at one victory apiece for both teams.
Having traveled from Multan to Rawalpindi, the focus now shifts to pitch preparations. Pakistan aims to craft a surface conducive to spin bowling, and it will be intriguing to see how the pitch curator approaches this task.
In terms of squad adjustments for the Rawalpindi Test, Pakistan has opted to replace spinner Zahid Mahmood with a fast bowler. This change is anticipated to benefit their spin attack. As a result, the team will feature two pace bowlers; one confirmed as Aamer Jamal, while the second bowler is still under consideration. Mir Hamza is a likely candidate for this role, with the remainder of the lineup remaining consistent.
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The directive has been issued to prepare a pitch that favors spin bowling, especially on days four and five of the match. Notably, since 1998, Pakistan has managed to secure only two Test victories in Rawalpindi over the past 26 years. England previously triumphed over Pakistan in Rawalpindi during their tour in 2022.
The Rawalpindi Test is set to commence on October 24, with the series currently tied at 1-1.