Pakistan playing XI for third test against England revealed

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan playing XI was announced for the third test against England on Wednesday.

Pakistan will keep the same squad that were victorious over England in the second test, with a heavy focus on spin bowling. In the second test, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan secyred victory for Pakistan as they took 11 and 9 wickets respectively.

The team will continue to be led by Shan Masood. After losing to England in the first test, sources stated that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was likely to sack the skipper after the series.  

During the week, industrial sized fans, windbreakers, and outdoor heaters are being used to dry out the surface at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, to transform the pitch that has traditionally been beneficial for seam bowlers, to a surface on which spin bowling will excel.

England announces squad for third test against Pakistan

With this in mind, England are including Rehan Ahmed in their playing XI, alongside Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir, who have already found success in the series.

Earlier reports suggested that Zahid Mehmood would be benched in favour of fast bowler Muhammad Ali, but that is not the case, as the spinner will remain in the playing XI.

PAKISTAN playing XI: Shan Masood (c), Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mehmood.

England playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, and Shoaib Bashir

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