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Thursday October 24, 2024

England win toss, opt to bat in Test series-decider against Pakistan

Third Test is being played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium; three-match series is tied at 1-1

By Reuters & Sports Desk
October 24, 2024
England captain Ben Stokes (second left) and Pakistans skipper Shan Masood pictured during the toss for the third Test against Pakistan at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 24, 2024. — Facebook@PakistanCricketBoard
England captain Ben Stokes (second left) and Pakistan's skipper Shan Masood pictured during the toss for the third Test against Pakistan at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 24, 2024. — Facebook@PakistanCricketBoard 

RAWALPINDI: England on Thursday won the toss and chose to bat first against Pakistan in the crucial third Test of the series, with the score tied at 1-1.

Both teams have gone into the match with a lone seamer in what is expected to be a spin-friendly pitch at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

England have brought in Rehan Ahmed as a third spinner, while Gus Atkinson was recalled as the tourists continued to rotate their pacers.

"We'll have to wait and see until a bit of cricket and some traffic has gone over it," said England captain Ben Stokes at the toss.

"But it looks a really good wicket. It's another challenge we're presented with and we'll wait and see," he added.

— PCB
— PCB

Pakistan have fielded the same 11 who secured the series-levelling victory in the second test in Multan.

Green Shirts' captain Shan Masood was reluctant to make a prediction about the pitch.

"The important thing is to see the situation, see what you're under and respond," he said.

"The preparation has been a bit different, until both teams have batted we'll keep our opinions to ourself," remarked Masood.

Playing XIs

Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (captain), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Muhammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Salman Agha, Aamer Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mahmood

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir