Pakistan

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has revealed that Pak Test team coach Jason Gillespie has denied a flat pitch request by batters for the upcoming three-Test home series against England. This after Pakistan recently lost a two-Test home series 0-2 against Bangladesh.  

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"I will give you an inside story. Jason Gillespie has handed a shut-up call to Pakistan batters. He wants the pitch to remain the same that has been prepared by the groundsman," Basit said on his YouTube channel.

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"Pakistan batters wanted to cut off the grass to make it a flat pitch. The pitch curator and Gillespie want to play on the same pitch. I would be really happy if the match took place on a grassy surface and our bowlers took wickets," he added.

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The first of the three Tests between Pakistan and England starts Monday (Oct. 7) in Multan. England are favourites to win after their 3-0 win on the last tour in 2022 and the home team's recent lack of form.

Ben Stokes ruled out of Multan Test

England skipper Ben Stokes has officially been ruled out of the upcoming first Test against Pakistan in Multan. Stokes is still recovering from a hamstring injury which he had suffered in the Hundred tournament.

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"I tried my hardest to try and get myself fit for this first game but we've taken the call to miss this one. I've not quite managed to get game-ready," Stokes said, as reported by cricket news website ESPNCricinfo. 

Stokes had also not played the three-Test home series against Sri Lanka, which England won 2-1 under Ollie Pope's captaincy. With the all-rounder out of the picture at least for the first game of the series, Pope will be leading England in fourth successive Test.