The decisive third Test between Pakistan and England began under warm and hazy skies in Rawalpindi, with England winning the toss and electing to bat.
Ben Stokes, finally breaking his streak of seven consecutive coin toss losses, expressed confidence in the dry and crack-filled wicket, which is expected to deteriorate over the course of the match.
Sajid Khan opened the bowling for Pakistan and immediately found spin off the dry surface. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett took their positions, with Crawley managing to sneak a bye off the first ball, as the ball kept low and drifted down the leg side. With one slip and a short leg in place, Pakistan appears to be preparing for an intense battle on a turning wicket.
Experts, including former cricketer Mike Atherton, pointed out the visible cracks on the pitch, predicting that it might become more challenging for batsmen as the match progresses. Despite these conditions, both teams expect a high-scoring game early on, reminiscent of their previous encounter on the same ground two years ago, where both sides racked up over 500 runs in their first innings.
England's lineup includes Gus Atkinson, replacing Matt Potts, while Pakistan remains unchanged, relying on a spin-heavy attack featuring Zahid Mahmood, Noman Ali, and Sajid Khan.
With the series tied 1-1, this match could determine the future for several players on both sides, as fans eagerly await what could be a thrilling contest over the next five days.
Pakistan: 1 Saim Ayub, 2 Abdullah Shafique, 3 Shan Masood (capt), 4 Kamran Ghulam, 5 Saud Shakeel, 6 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 7 Salman Agha, 8 Aamer Jamal, 9 Sajid Khan, 10 Noman Ali, 11 Zahid Mehmood
