Left-field thought and patio heaters: How Pakistan turned series on head

A revamped Pakistan selection committee dropped out-of-form batsman Babar Azam, pace spearheads Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah and instead turned to spin with instructions to groundstaff to produce pitches to match.

The featherbed batsmen's paradise of the first Test at Multan was recycled, with the help of a dowsing by water and industrial fans, into a turning pitch for the second.

Azam's replacement Kamran Ghulam, prolific in the domestic game but hitherto ignored, rewarded the new selectors with a century on debut.

But it was the recalled Noman Ali and Sajid Khan who ripped England apart with spin, guile and a flourish as they took all 20 wickets on their way to a 152-run victory.

More of the same was ordered for the series-deciding third Test in Rawalpindi and Pakistan completed a remarkable turnaround by nine wickets on Saturday.

The 2-1 triumph over England was their first home series win since February 2021.

"We were losing matches after matches, series after series because there was no plan," former Pakistan wicketkeeper batsman Kamran Akmal told AFP.

"It's thanks to the PCB for thinking out of the box and selectors for picking the discarded spinners that this win was forced," said Akmal.

Pakistan took a punt using the same pitch for two Tests in a row in Multan.

But they pulled out all the stops in Rawalpindi, which had a reputation in the past of favouring seam bowlers, employing patio heaters and rakes to set up a spinning track.

Noman and Sajid this time shared 19 wickets as England crumbled to 112 all out and Pakistan cruised to victory by nine wickets.
'Template to win'
Former England captain Michael Atherton gave credit to Pakistan for finally finding a way to win after a dire spell in all formats of the game.

"Pakistan now have a template to win at home," said Atherton, who was a TV commentator for the series.

"You have got to be strong at home. Then you search for ways to adapt your game to win abroad."

His TV colleague, another former England captain Nasser Hussain, said Pakistan "switched a plan mid-series and it's paid dividends".

Pakistan has had five PCB chairmen in as many years, with 26 different selectors and six head coaches over that same period.

Hussain said as a result, their previous tactics "would last a week" before being chopped and changed, ruling out an overarching strategy like the one that yielded two Test victories in a row.

"We met some fans who told us that they are happy that Pakistan at least have a plan now, even if it is an unorthodox one," said Hussain.

"The win with a new plan has given them new joy."

The series victory is the first Shan Masood since he was appointed captain last year and has given him respite from calls for his resignation.

But Pakistan will next play a two-match Test series in South Africa in December, where they have never won.

"We will need to plan and work hard for further progress and just not sit on this one win," warned Akmal.

"A win will motivate everyone," he said. "I am sure this will lift our cricket and we will regain our glory of the past."