England have made two changes to their XI for the third and final Test against Pakistan that commences here on Thursday.
Spin is expected to play a major role in the series decider and as such England have opted to recall leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed to partner Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir in a three-pronged slow bowling attack.
Pacer Gus Atkinson also wins a recall, with fellow quicks Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts dropping out of the XI following Pakistan’s series equalling 152-run victory over England in the second Test in Multan.
It means Atkinson is the only specialist quick in England’s XI, with skipper Ben Stokes the other seam bowling option on a pitch that is likely to turn later in the match according to key batter Harry Brook, an ICC report said.
“Everyone goes and looks at the wicket and says something different… Hopefully, it’s just like any other Pakistani pitch,” Brook said.
“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,” he added.
England currently sit in fifth place on the ICC World Test Championship standings, with Pakistan in eighth.
England XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.
