Pakistan adopt unusual tactics to get revenge on England for Multan humiliation

face an unexpected challenge ahead of their second Test in Pakistan, as the hosts plan to reuse the same pitch in Multan instead of providing a fresh one.

It's unusual for Tests to be played consecutively at the same venue, and it's unprecedented for the same pitch to be used twice in a row.

However, after losing the series opener by an innings and 47 runs, it seems the hosts are looking for an unconventional solution.

The pitch was stubbornly flat during the first Test, with first-innings totals of 556 and 823 for seven and only 13 wickets taken in the first three days.

Now, it appears that Pakistan are willing to risk using a worn wicket that has seen 353.3 overs of action in the past week, believing it may offer a better balance between bat and ball than a new one.

The first sign of this surprising move came when both teams arrived for training on Sunday morning, and large industrial fans were spotted at either end of the original pitch to speed up the drying process.

Alternative pitches were also being prepared on either side, but it was the central one that garnered the most attention.

Pakistan's recently appointed head coach Jason Gillespie seemed unsure about the developments, spending over half an hour studying the conditions and engaging in several animated discussions.

Therefore, a last-minute change of plans cannot be ruled out. Although there was minimal deterioration in the first Test, visible cracks were beginning to appear, along with occasional signs of variable bounce.

Tensions could escalate if the upcoming games take a vastly different turn from last week's high-scoring affair.

Anticipating Pakistan's tactical switch after their initial loss, Chris Woakes reflected on the changing dynamics, noting: "The ball is firmly in their court."

He speculated: When it's a home series, it's only three matches and you lose the first you'd like to think that the next two are going to be result wickets. Whether that be green pitches or turners, we'll see."

Meanwhile, former England skipper Kevin Pietersen harshly referred to the Multan surface as a "bowlers' graveyard" during the coverage of the first Test.