An already extraordinary Test series continue to surprise, even when cricket is not played. The decision to drop their most popular and experienced player, former captain Babar Azam, and their two primary seamers, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, could predictably opt to drop Pakistan under the circumstances. The remaining two matches against England are deeply shocking. Sarbaraz Ahmed, another former captain who did not play in the first match, has also been released.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has reshuffled its selection panel and squad after England won the first Test by an innings and 47 runs on Friday afternoon. The new-look team met in Lahore on Friday and Multan on Saturday, this time with the positions of coach Jason Gillespie and captain Shaun Masood under threat.
Officially, the players are being rested, and Babur in particular has been given a break to clear his head and regain form – he has averaged just 20.70 in his last 17 innings at the start of 2023, a poor run for a player of such class. . “We hope this break will help these players regain their fitness, confidence and composure,” said Akib Javed, a member of the selection committee. “They are our finest talents with many more contributions to Pakistan cricket.”
These moves add to the sense of confusion and crisis surrounding the Pakistan team and this series in particular. The final schedule for the England tour was not announced until the end of September, 17 days before the start of the match, when the organizers finally abandoned the possibility of renovation work at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, the planned venue for the second Test, and moved the match to Multan on time.
It is increasingly seen that even this schedule will not hold: The Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, led by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, has called for a “massive demonstration” in Islamabad on Tuesday. The instability in the capital may force the third Test, which was scheduled to begin on October 24 in nearby Rawalpindi, to be rescheduled. In recent weeks, dozens of prominent PTI figures, including Imran's sisters, have been arrested, and social media and mobile phone networks have been periodically suspended. The government suppresses dissent.
As the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is also a building site, this will result in a third game in Multan. Government representatives have reportedly met Imran and asked him to delay future protests until the end of the third Test, and the PCB's decision is expected by Wednesday.
Currently, the country seems to have only one usable Test ground and only one usable pitch at that stadium. Given the uncertainty surrounding the Pakistan team, which saw Gillespie and Australian chief groundskeeper Tony Hemming engaged in a lengthy discussion on Sunday, the decision to play the second Test on the pitch originally used is unlikely to be reversed. training session, and on either side of it are alternating surfaces in various states of readiness.
The PCB has demanded a spin from the start, thanks to the existing footings, and plans to pick at least one extra spinner to capitalize on that, as well as replace Abrar Ahmed, who is in hospital with dengue fever.
England would see this as an unwelcome distraction. On Sunday, most of their players were more welcome, with Shoaib Bashir one of those involved in the opening Test and the four absentees, Jordan Cox, Matt Potts, Ben Stokes and Rehan Ahmed taking part in optional training. Session on the ground.
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As in their first session after arriving in the city, Stokes was the center of attention. But while his lack of fitness last week was a concern, his performance this time around has been encouraging. “He's beautiful,” Jimmy Anderson said. “He had a good bowl and is good to go.” The question is who will replace him. Given the state of the pitch, England are unlikely to pick two specialist spinners, leaving Chris Woakes out. They are expected to name a team on Monday.
Brayden Garse, who took two wickets in each innings on debut last week, was singled out for praise from Anderson. “He was outstanding,” said England's all-time leading wicket-taker and current coaching consultant. “We always knew what he could deliver. Bowling at 90 mph in that heat is an amazing effort. He was accurate, he bowled good short stuff when we needed him to do that and he bowls wickets, which is what we are after as a bowling group.
While Pakistan will roam around looking for ways to change the momentum, England will simply hope to surf. “Any time you concede 550 runs and win a match with two sessions, you can't give everyone hope,” Anderson said. “A lot of times, when I've been involved in teams and given away 550 runs, the best way to win is to get past them – you say that, but actually believing it is another thing. I think there is a belief in this dressing room that we can win games from any position. Obviously there's believing it and doing it, but it gives you a lot of confidence when it happens.
