England have recalled Rehan Ahmed as part of a three-pronged spin attack for the series-deciding third Test against Pakistan.
Ahmed joins slow left-armer Jack Leach and off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, with the tourists seemingly prepared for another turning track.
The pitch at Rawalpindi is renowned as a flat batting paradise but Pakistan have left it baking in the sun over the last three days and employed the same industrial fans they used to dry out the surface ahead of the second Test.
Over the weekend, patio-style heaters and windbreaks were also utilised to speed the process.
England’s decision to add Ahmed to their bowling options suggests they believe spin will be the decisive factor, with Gus Atkinson returning as the sole specialist seamer backed up by captain and all-rounder Ben Stokes.
Durham quicks Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts drop out of the XI.
England batter Harry Brook made it clear that the work of the groundstaff had not gone unnoticed by his side, who are understood to have noted uneven ridges located on a good length.
“They’ve had the rakes out, the fans and the heaters on the pitch,” he said with a smile.
“It’s interesting and it’s unique. Hopefully, it’ll be a nice pitch for the first couple of days and then we’re expecting it to turn at the back end of the game.
“I’d say it will be a good pitch for the first day, two days maybe, then it will start spinning. God knows, to be honest. Everyone goes to look at the wicket and everyone says something different.
“Their spinners are obviously going to play a massive part this week. I’ve spoken to a few lads about game-plans and how we’ll go about it. Hopefully that pays off and I can play a big part in the game too.”
The match represents a big opportunity for Ahmed, who became England’s youngest ever men’s Test player in the corresponding fixture in 2022, taking the field in Karachi at the age of 18 years and 126 days.
He marked the occasion with a five-wicket haul on debut and added three further caps on the tour to India earlier this year. He has yet to play outside the sub-continent, where England are not scheduled to play again until early 2026.
He comes into the game with a strong record of 18 wickets in four games and happy memories of that first outing in Karachi.
“He’s an outstanding cricketer – not just his bowling, but his batting and fielding,” Brook said of the 20-year-old.
“He’s a young lad so he has a lot of time to come. He got five-for in his last Test here, so hopefully he can do that again.”