Pakistan vs England: The third and final Test of the series between Pakistan and England will take place at Rawalpindi, with both teams looking to clinch the series decider. After Pakistan leveled the series 1-1 with a remarkable victory in Multan, both teams are expected to bring their A-game to Rawalpindi, where conditions favor pacers more than spinners.

Match Details

Tournament: England Tour of Pakistan 2024
Format: Test Match
Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
Date: October 24, 2024

Team News

Pakistan

After snapping an 11-match winless streak at home with a 152-run victory in Multan, Pakistan will be looking to seal the series at Rawalpindi. The focus will be on their dynamic spin duo, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali, who dismantled England’s lineup in the second Test.

Kamran Ghulam, who marked his Test debut with a brilliant 118, will again play a vital role, supported by top-order batters such as Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, and Saud Shakeel. Pakistan’s inconsistent batting remains a concern, but they have a solid pace option in Aamer Jamal, with Mir Hamza possibly coming in if conditions favor seamers.

England

England will be eager to bounce back after their loss in Multan. Rawalpindi’s pace-friendly surface offers hope for their fast bowlers, with Gus Atkinson set to replace Matthew Potts. Rehan Ahmed and Shoaib Bashir will continue as spin options, while Ben Stokes and Joe Root anchor the batting department.

England’s batters struggled against spin in the previous match, with only Ben Duckett managing a century. The visitors will rely on their aggressive “Bazball” approach to dominate on a pitch that suits their fast bowlers and aggressive batting style.

Pakistan vs England Head-to-Head

• Matches Played: 90
• Pakistan Wins: 22
• England Wins: 29
• Draws: 39

Form Guide

England: W, W, L, W, L

Pakistan: L, L, L, L, W

Last 5 Matches

• Pakistan won by 152 runs – 15 Oct 2024
• England won by an innings and 47 runs – 07 Oct 2024
• England won by 8 wickets – 17 Dec 2022
• England won by 26 runs – 09 Dec 2022
• England won by 74 runs – 01 Dec 2022

Possible Lineup

Pakistan Playing XI:
Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (c), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Aamer Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mehmood / Mir Hamza

England Playing XI:
Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir

Key Players to Watch

Pakistan

• Kamran Ghulam: 118 off 224 in the last match, leading Pakistan’s batting effort.
• Sajid Khan: 7/111 in Multan, a crucial figure in Pakistan’s bowling attack.
• Saim Ayub: An emerging talent with solid contributions at the top of the order.

England

• Ben Duckett: Scored 114 in the previous Test, showcasing resilience against spin.
• Joe Root: England’s most consistent Test performer, averaging 81.53 in his last 10 matches.
• Gus Atkinson: A promising pacer with 38 wickets in his last 7 matches.

SWOT Analysis: Pakistan vs England

Pakistan

Strengths

• Momentum Boost: Snapped a long 11-match winless streak at home with a 152-run victory in the second Test, leveling the series.
• Effective Spin Attack: Sajid Khan and Noman Ali dismantled England’s batting in Multan with crucial wickets.
• In-Form Players: Kamran Ghulam’s century on debut and Agha Salman’s incredible batting and all-round form in 2024.
• Pace Options Available: Aamer Jamal and Mir Hamza add depth to the pace attack for the Rawalpindi Test, a surface known for aiding seamers.
• Home Advantage: Familiarity with conditions could offer an edge, especially with varied spin and pace combinations.

Weaknesses

• Inconsistent Batting Line-up: Despite individual brilliance, the batting order struggles with inconsistency under pressure, especially against quality pace.
• Relies on Top-Order Contributions: A lack of runs from middle and lower-order batters increases dependence on openers like Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique.
• Pressure of Decider: Pakistan faces the challenge of sealing the series after a long home drought, which could create added pressure.

Opportunities

• Exploit England’s Struggles Against Spin: With England having lost all 20 wickets to spin in the last Test, Pakistan can use the likes of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali strategically.
• Use Rawalpindi Conditions to Boost Pace Attack: Pakistan’s seamers can make an impact if the conditions favor pace as expected.
• Capitalizing on England’s Aggressive Playstyle: England’s Bazball approach could backfire on a tricky pitch if Pakistan’s bowlers find early breakthroughs.

Threats

• Vulnerable to England’s Pacers: England’s bowlers, like Gus Atkinson, could exploit any weaknesses in Pakistan’s batting order if the pitch assists pace.
• Bazball Pressure: England’s aggressive batting style can quickly change the course of the game if Pakistan’s bowlers fail to control runs.
• Stokes and Root in Form: England’s experienced batters, especially Joe Root, could prove challenging to dismiss and build pressure on Pakistan.

England

Strengths

• Bazball Approach: England’s aggressive batting philosophy allows them to put pressure on bowlers and dominate in quick bursts.
• Deep Batting Line-up: With experienced players like Joe Root and Ben Stokes, England has a solid foundation for big scores.
• Rawalpindi’s Pace-Friendly Pitch: England’s pace battery, led by Gus Atkinson, can be effective in these conditions.
• Ben Duckett and Harry Brook in Form: Duckett’s century and Brook’s recent success against Pakistan make them key assets for England’s batting.

Weaknesses

• Struggles Against Spin: England’s batters lost all 20 wickets to spin in Multan, highlighting a key vulnerability.
• Overreliance on Aggression: If Pakistan’s bowlers manage early breakthroughs, England’s aggressive batting style may backfire.
• Rotating Playing XI: With changes in the squad, including the addition of Rehan Ahmed, the team’s balance could be disrupted.

Opportunities

• Favorable Pitch for Pacers: England can use Rawalpindi’s pace-friendly surface to their advantage and dominate with seam bowling.
• Rehan Ahmed’s Spin Impact: If the Rawalpindi pitch offers any turn, Rehan could surprise Pakistan with his bowling skills.
• Chance to Seal Series Victory: Winning the decider would showcase England’s adaptability in subcontinent conditions and further boost their Test credentials.

Threats

• Sajid Khan and Noman Ali: Pakistan’s spinners could still pose a challenge if England’s batters are unable to adapt.
• Unpredictable Rawalpindi Pitch: A tricky pitch could make batting challenging for both sides, and early wickets might disrupt England’s game plan.
• Pakistan’s Pace Bowling Depth: With bowlers like Aamer Jamal and Zahid Mahmood in the attack, England’s batters will need to be cautious early on.

Pakistan vs England Prediction

The match promises to be a thriller, with both sides fighting for the series win. Pakistan will have the momentum from their last win, but the pace-friendly Rawalpindi pitch gives England a slight edge. If England can adapt to the conditions and overcome Pakistan’s bowling attack, they could take the series 2-1.

Prediction: England to win by a narrow margin.

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