PAK vs ENG: Series decider between Pakistan and England to start on Thursday in Rawalpindi

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The deciding Test match between Pakistan and England will commence on Thursday at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, with preparations in full swing by both the teams and the stadium's management. 

The Rawalpindi pitch is being described as favorable for spinners, adding to the excitement of the series finale.

England has made a strategic move by including three specialist spinners in their final playing XI: Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir, and leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed. Pakistan, on the other hand, is expected to make a single change, with fast bowler Mohammad Ali likely to replace leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood.

England secured victory in the first Test, while Pakistan won the second, leaving the series poised at 1-1. The third and deciding Test promises to be a thrilling contest as both teams intensify their preparations.

Both sides have been rigorously training at the Rawalpindi Stadium, focusing on bowling, batting, and fielding drills to fine-tune their skills ahead of the crucial match.

The pitch, already a point of much discussion, is being closely monitored. It is considered conducive to spin bowling, and industrial fans and heaters are being used to remove moisture from the surface to ensure ideal playing conditions.

National selector Aaqib Javed, head coach Jason Gillespie, captain Shan Masood, and the Pakistan team management have also inspected the pitch to assess the conditions.

England's decision to field three spinners—Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir, and Rehan Ahmed—indicates their tactical approach for the final match. Additionally, Gus Atkinson is part of the English squad, while Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts have been dropped.

On the Pakistan side, the likely inclusion of fast bowler Mohammad Ali in place of Zahid Mahmood suggests a shift in strategy as the team looks to seize victory in the series finale.

England’s Playing XI for the third Test:
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook , Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir

Pakistan squad:
Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha and Zahid Mehmood.