Former England cricketer Michael Atherton offered his thoughts on the pitch conditions for the upcoming third and final Test match against Pakistan, scheduled from October 24 to 28 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
During a conversation with former England captain Nasser Hussain on a TV Show, Atherton gave a detailed analysis of the preparations for the match. “I was there this morning, and with just two days to go, fans were already on the pitch. It’s currently uncovered, allowing the heat to penetrate the surface. I believe it will be a very good pitch for the first couple of days. Clearly, they are trying to bake it to encourage spin” noted the English expert.
Atherton also pointed out that Rawalpindi has a reputation for being one of the flattest pitches around, so Pakistan might not be able to replicate the same conditions as were present in Multan. The former English cricketer explained that he expected the pitch to be good for batting during the first half of the match before deteriorating to a condition more suitable for spin.
As the preparations for the series decider intensify, the ground staff at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium are working hard to ensure the pitch is in excellent condition. To keep the surface dry, pedestal fans and heaters are being used on the pitch in a similar manner to the second Test. These efforts were crucial to Pakistan’s success in Multan, where spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali were key contributors to the home team’s victory.
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