PAK vs ENG: Rawalpindi to host third Test as venue change rumors dismissed

The much-anticipated third Test between Pakistan and England is set to take place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, sources confirmed to a local news channel on Monday. 

Speculations regarding a venue change back to Multan have been dismissed as baseless, with arrangements already in place for the fixture in Rawalpindi, scheduled to commence on October 24.

In the lead-up to the third Test, Shan Masood’s Pakistan side will face the England team tomorrow (Tuesday) at the Multan Cricket Stadium. The match marks a critical point in the series as both teams vie for dominance.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced significant changes to their lineup for the match. English captain Ben Stokes is making his return after missing the first Test due to a hamstring injury. In addition, seamer Matthew Potts has been included in the playing eleven for the first time since August, while Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes have been rested.

On the Pakistan side, Kamran Ghulam is set to make his Test debut in the second Test. Ghulam, who has an impressive first-class record with 4,377 runs from 59 matches, is expected to bolster the batting lineup. However, notable players, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah, have been excluded from the squad announced on Sunday, leading to speculation about the team’s strategy moving forward.

Pakistan squad:

Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Nauman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, and Zahid Mahmood.