The two teams have now moved to Islamabad, with the third Test played in Rawalpindi from Thursday. The Pakistan captain Shan Masood said he wanted a similar pitch and his board are doing everything at their disposal to ensure he gets his wish.
The Pakistan Cricket Board sent their Australian curator Tony Hemming to Rawalpindi ahead of time to get to work.
“I would like a turning pitch,” Masood said when the second Test finished on Friday. “I don’t know if I’ve seen a turner in Rawalpindi – that’s an issue.
“We’re still hoping that the sun can play its part and the wicket can be on the drier side. I think the groundsmen are already there working on it.”
Rawalpindi is usually a flat surface – England scored 506 runs in 75 overs on the opening day of their series whitewash in 2022 – but Pakistan have employed six patio heaters, two industrial-sized fans and giant windbreaks at each end in an attempt to bake the surface and make sure it spins from early in the match. Again, much will depend on the toss, which Masood has won in both matches so far.
England’s Bazballers love flat pitches, but have lost five Tests in a row on turners, first in India in the spring and now at Multan.
