England pick three specialist spinners for decisive Test

RAWALPINDI: England are going into the decisive Test at the Rawalpindi Stadium with three specialist spinners as leggie Rehan Ahmad has been inducted in the playing XI.

It was in February that England included three spinners in Rehan Ahmed, Hartley and Shoaib Bashir in the playing line up at the Visakhapatnam Test against India. Joe Root will also be available as fourth spinner.

Rehan last played a Test match against India in Rajkot back in February. England’s XI for the third Test: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.

Pakistan may make one change

RAWALPINDI: Pace bowler Mir Hamza is struggling with the side strain as Pakistan is considering making one change in the playing line-up for the decisive Test against England starting at the Pindi Stadium from Thursday tomorrow.

Saud Shakil has confirmed that Hamza has got some hip inflammation, thus ruling him out of the third Test. “He could not take any part in the practice session for the last two days due to hip inflammation,” he said.

An insider has confirmed to The News that Pakistan is considering one change in the playing line-up from the team that played the second Test at Multan. Leg-spinner Zahid Mehmood could well be replaced by youngster Mehran Mumtaz if curators give go ahead to team management that strip is a definite turner right at the outset of the Test. Or Mohammad Ali could well be seen getting yet another chance. “All options are open for us. We can go with the same line up or consider making one change according to the requirements,” one of the insiders when contacted told The News.