England recalled Rehan Ahmed for the third Test in Rawalpindi, opting for a spin-heavy attack on a pitch that has been “raked” by the local ground staff.
Rehan Ahmed Recalled as England Prepares for ‘Raked’ Rawalpindi Pitch
Rehan Ahmed has been recalled to England’s squad for the third Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, as the team braces for a spin-friendly pitch.
England has opted for a three-spin attack, with Ahmed joining Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir in the lineup.
This decision comes as the Rawalpindi ground staff have “raked” the pitch, leading England to expect it will turn more than usual.
England is gambling by fielding only two fast-bowling options in Gus Atkinson and captain Ben Stokes. Both Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts have been rested after their contributions in the previous two Tests.
Spin Gamble on ‘Raked’ Pitch
Harry Brook revealed that ground staff
“They’ve had the rakes out, the fans and the heaters on the pitch,” Brook said. “Everyone goes and looks at the wicket and says something different… Hopefully, it’s just like any other Pakistani pitch. It’s good to bat on for the first few days and then hopefully, we can get a bit of turn out of it at the back end of the game.”
England expects Pakistan’s spinners, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali, to “play a massive part” in the game.
“I think the conditions are going to be a little bit different,” Brook said. “We played on an extremely flat pitch here last time. It was awesome to bat on, and we scored a good rate of knots. This game’s probably going to be slightly different. It might turn earlier on: who knows? It might be a good pitch to start with and we get off to a flyer.”
Rehan Ahmed’s inclusion indicates that England is preparing for an early turner, a stark contrast from the flat Rawalpindi pitch seen two years ago.
England’s decision to bank on spin comes with the memory of their 657-run innings on a benign surface at this venue still fresh, but Brook expects a “slightly different” track this time.
Ahmed’s Return to International Cricket
Rehan Ahmed’s return comes after a difficult period where he struggled in India and faced setbacks in white-ball cricket.
Despite his struggles, England remains confident in his potential. He made an immediate impact on his Test debut in Pakistan two years ago, taking 5 for 48 in Karachi.
Though his progress has been uneven, Rehan has worked on his batting and can contribute to England’s lower order.
Ahmed is stepping into a high-stakes game, and with Pakistan’s efforts to craft a turning pitch, he is expected to play a vital role.
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