England have made two changes for the third Test against Pakistan, beginning on October 24 in Rawalpindi.
England have named their XI for the third Test against Pakistan, with Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts making way for Gus Atkinson and Rehan Ahmed. The visitors had won the first Test by an innings but were beaten in the second match, played on a re-used Multan wicket.
Two days ahead of the third match, the XI has been named, with Potts, who picked up 2-66 and 1-19 in the second match, being replaced by Atkinson. The latter was named for the first Multan Test where he ended with four wickets, picking up two wickets apiece in both innings.
England have recalled Rehan Ahmed for the match as well, allowing him to don the whites for the first time since the series in India. Rehan, who made his debut on England’s last tour of Pakistan in 2022, has only played four Tests since, picking up 18 wickets at an average of 34.50.
With the Rawalpindi strip expected to be slow, with plenty of heaters and fans being used to dry out any moisture from the wicket, England have gone ahead with three spinners for the Test. Rehand will accompany Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir in the side, replacing Carse, arguably the best pacer in the series.
From Pakistan, Mir Hamza is carrying a glute niggle, which prevented him from training ahead of the third Test. The hosts are yet to announce their team.
England’s XI for third Pakistan Test
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.
