New Delhi: The second Test match between Pakistan and England, scheduled to be played between October 15 and 19, is reportedly said to be played on the same pitch which was used in the first Test at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
The second Test match was originally set to take place at the National Stadium in Karachi, but was later moved to Multan as the former is under renovation for the ICC Champions Trophy next year.
According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the industrial-sized fans were used to dry the Multan pitch at the either end after the groundstaff heavily watered the surface in the aftermath of the first Test.
The move is linked to the ICC’s pitch regulations where only the best possible pitch and outfield conditions matter. There is no need for the pitch to be fresh or unused in this concern.
According to a report by Cricbuzz, Tony Hemming, Pakistan Cricket Board’s Australian head curator, was instructed to prepare a turning-friendly pitch for the bowlers with the home team planning to field spin force to level the series after an innings and 47 runs defeat in the first.
Right-arm off-spinner Sajid Khan is likely to be drafted in the squad for the second Test, as per the report. This comes after youngster Abrar Ahmed, who was found ill during the first Test, won’t recover ahead of the next game.
Babar Azam set to be dropped
The Pakistan selection committee is reportedly said to drop star batter Babar Azam after a flurry of low scores in the red-ball format. Babar’s lean patch in the Whites continued in Multan, having scored 30 and 5, respectively, as Pakistan failed to record a home Test win for 11 matches on the trot.
Babar hasn’t managed to score a fifty for the last 17 innings with his last big knock came against New Zealand when he made 161 in the first Test in Karachi in December 2022. The selectors believe the move to drop Babar will allow him some time to recuperate mentally away from the game.
The second Test match was originally set to take place at the National Stadium in Karachi, but was later moved to Multan as the former is under renovation for the ICC Champions Trophy next year. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
