On Monday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) declared complimentary entry for fans on the inaugural day of the forthcoming third Test match between Pakistan and England.

The series is now tied at 1-1, and the decisive third match will be from 24 October to 28 October at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The cricket board declared the decision via its social media platforms, adding, “FREE entry for fans to Premium Enclosures on the inaugural day of the third #PAKvENG Test in Rawalpindi.”

Pakistan experienced a humiliating defeat by an innings and 47 runs in the series opener; therefore, the home team implemented several changes, including the exclusion of their star batsman Babar Azam and premier fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Sarfaraz Ahmed and Naseem Shah were the other two significant players omitted from the national team’s roster for the remainder of the series.

Domestic player Kamran Ghulam made his anticipated debut, while spin spinners Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, and Zahid Mahmood returned to the Test squad.

The modifications yielded positive results, as Kamran achieved a century on his debut, while Sajid and Noman collectively took 20 wickets, leading Pakistan to their inaugural Test victory at home since February 2021.

Teams:

Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, and Zahid Mehmood.

England: Ben Stokes (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

To help Pakistan’s standout batter Babar Azam find his best form again, former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag has advised him to play domestic cricket.

Babar’s poor recent performances have put him under intense scrutiny. A disappointing home Test series against Bangladesh last month saw him fall out of the top ten in the ICC Test Batting Rankings, managing a pitiful 64 runs in four innings.

Following his 35-run two-inning performance in the opening Test match against England, he was left from the team for the rest of the series.

The Shan Masood-led squad leveled the three-match series and won their first Test at home since February 2021 as they defeated England by 152 runs while Babar was suspended.

When Virender Sehwag spoke on former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar’s YouTube channel, he discussed Babar Azam’s recent troubles and gave him advice to play domestic cricket to get back in form.

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“Aber Azam ought to start playing cricket at home right now. In order to return to international cricket as a physically and psychologically better player, Sehwag advised him to focus on improving his fitness and spend some time with his family.

The former Indian all-rounder stated the opinion that Babar’s playing style and the expectations of the supporters have affected his mental condition, which has affected his performance on an individual basis.

“Babar seems to have been more affected mentally than technically, as evidenced by his resignation as captain and the decline in expectations placed on him,” he continued.

Sehwag voiced his confidence that Babar would be able to mount a successful comeback if he maintains his mental toughness and acknowledged Babar’s extraordinary skill.

His mental fortitude must not waver. Players like him tend to recover quickly, and he is a terrific player,” he said in closing.

In the second Test match of the series, Pakistan defeated England by a commanding 152 runs at Multan, levelling the scores at one. The game’s standout performer was spinner Noman Ali, who claimed an incredible eight wickets in the second innings, good for figures of 8 for 46, and helped England to a 297 total at a cost of just 144 runs.

Under the weight of Noman Ali’s skill, England’s batting crumbled, and they were bowled out in just 33.3 overs. Noman’s outstanding effort allowed him to take 11 wickets in the match, making him a crucial component in Pakistan’s triumph. Sajid Khan, his partner, was also instrumental in the second innings, taking two vital wickets, but his 2 for 93 stats were insignificant in the face of Noman’s valiant efforts.

After scoring 366 in the first innings and 221 in the second, Pakistan set England a formidable target of 297. In their chase, England, who had scored 291 in their opening innings, collapsed, with very few batsmen offering any opposition. Despite Joe Root’s 38 runs, Pakistan’s spin attack was too much for any of the other batters to withstand.

Pakistan’s victory was confirmed when Abdullah Shafique caught England’s last man, Shoaib Bashir, off Noman Ali’s bowling for a golden duck.

Pakistan has levelled the series with their victory, paving the way for an intriguing decider in the final Test. One of the best bowling performances ever by Noman Ali will go down in history, and the squad will be hoping to continue this momentum into the series decider.

(T:297) 291 and 144

Ollie Pope was dismissed for 22 off 38 balls by Sajid Khan after he struck twice, skilfully using a caught and bowled catch.

Although Pope and Joe Root had previously shown some resistance, Pope’s exit has put England in danger. Sajid’s explosive session now stands at 6.2-0-27-2, while Noman Ali added the crucial wicket of Ben Duckett to send England reeling at 37/3.

England currently has a difficult assignment as Pakistan’s spinners find significant turn and bounce on the fourth-day surface. England began the day needing 260 runs to win. Joe Root remains at the crease with 12 runs from 26 balls, but with 260 more runs required and seven wickets in hand, England will need a special effort to avoid defeat.

With over 88 overs remaining in the day, the match hangs in the balance, but Pakistan hold the upper hand as their bowlers continue to apply pressure.