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Since Pakistan’s last bowling change, a lot had transpired. It was their first home Test victory in four years. The Women’s T20 World Cup had gone through all of its knockout stages. It was New Zealand’s first Test victory in India in thirty-five years. Alongside chief curator Tony Hemming, Pakistan’s newly established selection committee travelled from Multan to Rawalpindi and, in what seemed to be a slight against horticulture, heated, fanned, sunned, shaded, and raked 22 yards of soil to alter its natural properties.
With the fervour of men who could hardly believe they had been called upon, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali had dedicated themselves to the cause over the course of eight days, three England innings, and two cities. Their head coach seemed to be as surprised as they were, as he had made it plain to anybody who would listen twice in the last two days that none of this was his intention.
However, Shan Masood, who had also had his wings clipped, remained with them for the entirety of their second innings after bowling Sajid and Noman together for the last 15 overs of England’s first innings in Multan last week. Here at Pindi, they were even given the new ball.
Even after lunch, nothing had changed when play started up again. Pakistan stuck to their previous default configuration, much like one of those Fantasy Football games where you can’t get back in to make adjustments after you’re locked out. Ramiz Raja was concerned about the two spinners wearing out on commentary, but Pakistan’s new 31- and 38-year-old saviours were making up for lost time as they hadn’t played first-class cricket since January.
The audience steadily grew as the nice morning turned into a warm afternoon. The stadium announcer was trying his hardest to keep them engaged by getting them to yell Sajid and Noman’s names, but he quickly ran out of things to say.
At a pivotal moment in the first session, when England’s openers seemed to have negated the spin threat with a 56-run stand, Noman took advantage of Zak Crawley’s impatience by slowing down the speed, a strategy the left-arm spinner has used skilfully throughout his career, and hitting it wide. He had defeated Crawley earlier in that over with a flawless delivery that ripped past Crawley’s outside edge and slid in, landing on middle. On the other hand, this appeared to be a looser, and Crawley grabbed it, cutting it to gully.
Sajid persisted after locating a spot outside of the stump where he could turn his offbreak quickly. His ability to solve problems during a match helped Pakistan win the second Test. He then went on to trap Joe Root and Ollie Pope in rapid succession, the latter with a ripper that even Root’s deft hands couldn’t stop.
The demons of the pitch by this time were not trying to hide. Ben Duckett had fought his half-century on a surface that was made to make it impossible for him to do so. The one that landed on middle, however, hardly moved around the ground, and no batter, no matter how set, could have explained it.
However, it’s far too simple to dismiss Nomi Chacha and the thigh-slapping, moustache-twirling Sajid as kind, harmless characters. Their success as a result of pitch preparation can be used to justify their inclusion in the team, as can Pakistan’s uncontrolled desperation.
Pakistan resorted to Sajid and Noman when the situation became really bad. “Fantastic bowler” is how Jamie Smith, the only hitter to pass Pakistan’s death-by-spin test, described Sajid. He has already taken the most wickets in the series. The fact that these two were present gave Pakistan the confidence to attempt this strategy adjustment in the first place, believing that their useful surfaces would outlast their rust. Masood has taken 20 wickets in the past two weeks, and the two have taken 29 in three days.
Pakistan finally made a change 42 overs into England’s innings. As England’s partnership at seven wickets was starting to take shape, Pavilion End’s Zahid Mahmood took over. He was hauled away to deep midwicket after hammering in a long hop to Gus Atkinson.
Everyone could see that Sajid and Noman were no longer bowling together.