RAWALPINDI, Pakistan — On Thursday, England won the toss and chose to bat first in the third and final Test against Pakistan, setting the stage for an intriguing match as both teams heavily favored spin bowlers in their squads for this decisive encounter.

Ground staff prepared a dry pitch by utilizing large industrial fans and outdoor heaters, anticipating that slow bowlers would have a significant impact on the game. England’s decision to bolster their spin attack included the selection of Rehan Ahmed, who took the role of the third specialist spinner alongside Jack Leach, a left-arm spinner, and Shoaib Bashir, an off-spinner.

After winning England’s first toss in their last eight Test matches, captain Ben Stokes remarked on the promising nature of the pitch. “It looks a very good wicket right now. It’s yet another challenge for us, but we have to wait and see how it plays out,” he stated.

England made two changes from the squad that experienced defeat in the second Test by 152 runs on a reused pitch in Multan. This match marked Pakistan’s first home Test victory since 2021, leveling the series at 1-1. Ahmed took the place of fast bowler Matthew Potts, while pace bowler Brydon Carse was rested, allowing Gus Atkinson to return after being part of the squad that achieved a memorable innings and 47-run victory in the first Test.

Pakistan opted to stick with the same lineup that brought captain Shan Masood his initial win after a streak of six losses since his appointment as captain. The spin duo of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali had a remarkable impact, claiming all 20 English wickets, while leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood was also retained after a limited bowling stint in the previous Test.

“We’ve always emphasized the importance of consistency and supporting our players,” Masood noted. Although hopeful for a spin-friendly pitch in this series-deciding Test, he expressed uncertainty over how the wicket would behave. “We like to believe that playing good cricket is paramount. The key is to assess the situation and adapt as necessary. Our preparations are slightly different, and we’ll reserve our thoughts until both teams have batted,” he added.

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**Lineups:**

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

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

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