Pakistan v England Test Match Series

I think We've shown we are still a great team without Stokes

Ahead of Tuesday's 2nd Test there's been a reaction from Pakistan, with star batsman Babar Azam rumoured to being dropped. Regarding the pitch, instruction has gone out to prepare a pitch that will spin from day one. The intention is to use the same pitch, which is being artificially dried out with large fans. It is believed to be unprecedented that the same pitch has been used back to back in a Test Match.
It is not out of the question that Multan could yet be use as a venue for the 3rd Test with political unrest in Rawalpindi.
All indications are that Stokes will return to captain the side, but where does he fit in. It would be a risk to drop a bowler, could Stokes get through enough overs as a 3rd seamer, if it turns then leaving Woakes out would be the option. 4 seamers might be one to many, so it avoids dropping Pope who was the only batsman to fail.
I would like to see a leg spinner but Rehan Ahmed is so raw but has variety, Root may well have to bowl more overs.

Hmmmm.
Very interesting selection conundrum for England. I too would like to see a leg spinner play but it's how to fit him in. Glad I'm not a selector .

I think it's folly picking all these young inexperienced spinners. The gulf between Leach & Bashir was massive. It is the one area that you can't fast-track, Graham Swan had years of County Cricket to fall back on.

No Babar Azam, Naseem Shah or Shaheen Shah Afridi for Pakistan.

It's reported that Pakistan are concidering picking 7 spinners to play on the old test wicket (they'll probably pick their best 3 out of the 7). It also been left open to the elements. They have already dropped two of their quick bowlers, they probably haven't recovered from the last test.

Please let England win the toss and bat first.

Stokes & Potts in, Woakes & Atkinson out, not dropped, rested.

Pakistan XI
Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood ©, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mahmood.

,

Pakistan v England 2nd Test - Multan Day 1 Close
Toss - Pakistan elected to bat
Pakistan 259-9 (90 overs) Kamran 118 Ayub 77 Rizwan 37 no Leach 2-92

As a certain Boycott used to say.
Need to see how both teams bat on a surface before casting judgement. Never has that mantra been more justified imo.
One of those wait and see days........