England have recalled Rehan Ahmed, the 20-year-old leg spinner, as part of a three-pronged spin attack for the decisive third Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
This strategic decision comes as England seeks to adapt to subcontinental conditions, where spin is expected to play a key role. Ahmed joins Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir in the spin department, while Gus Atkinson and captain Ben Stokes will lead the pace attack.
Ahmed’s return follows his stellar debut two years ago in Pakistan, where he took a five-wicket haul in Karachi, making him the youngest Englishman to achieve such a feat on debut.
The recall of Ahmed is significant as England looks to bounce back after a tough second Test loss in Multan, where Pakistan’s spinners, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, dominated by taking all 20 wickets. The Multan pitch, aided by the use of industrial fans to accelerate deterioration, favored spin, and Pakistan capitalized to level the series 1-1. The third Test now stands as a decider, with England seeking a second consecutive series win in Pakistan after their historic 3-0 triumph two years ago.
Harry Brook, England’s young batter, expressed confidence in Ahmed’s abilities, praising not only his bowling but also his contributions with the bat and in the field. Reflecting on Ahmed’s previous success in Pakistan, Brook said, “He’s an outstanding cricketer, and we hope he can repeat his five-wicket magic from the last Test here.”
The Rawalpindi pitch has been a focal point in the lead-up to the match, with ground staff using heaters, windbreaks, and fans to prepare the surface. Brook acknowledged the unpredictable nature of the wicket, suggesting it would likely be good for the first two days before favoring spinners in the later stages.
England’s rotation of seamers sees Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts omitted, while Atkinson returns after resting during the second Test. Atkinson had a strong performance in the first Test, taking four wickets as England won by an innings and 47 runs.
England’s game plan revolves around their spin attack, a tactic they also employed successfully earlier this year during their tour of India. With speculation that the Rawalpindi pitch will deteriorate, England is banking on their spinners to counter Pakistan’s potent spin duo.
Nasser Hussain, former England captain and Sky Sports commentator, pointed out that Pakistan must rethink their approach to pitch preparation, as consistently flat surfaces may not yield long-term success.
As the series comes down to the final Test, Brook, who scored a triple century in the first match of the series, is determined to play a pivotal role. He has discussed his plans with teammates on how to tackle Pakistan’s spinners, emphasizing his preference for playing off the back foot to give himself more options against the turning ball.
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir
For Pakistan, this decider represents a chance to break a streak of winless matches in Rawalpindi, where they last triumphed in a Test four games ago. England, meanwhile, is focused on repeating their memorable 2022 victory in Rawalpindi, where they achieved one of their greatest overseas wins in fading light on the fifth day.
The stage is set for an intense final encounter as both teams vie for supremacy in a series that has been tightly contested. England, with the confidence of their spin-heavy strategy and the experience of Ahmed, is hoping to close out another successful tour of Pakistan, while the hosts aim to harness home advantage and secure a much-needed win.
