Sanctions would only be administered retrospectively if a pitch or outfield subsequently are deemed to have played in an unsatisfactory or unfit manner.
The theory for playing on the same surface is that a fresh pitch would simply produce a repeat of last week. By playing on the old pitch, which is cracked and started to show signs of uneven bounce towards the back end of the first Test, Pakistan may feel their bowlers have a better chance against England’s powerful batting.
“Going off the last game, we did see it go up and down, mainly down, towards the back end,” said Anderson, England’s all-time leading wicket-taker.
“The cracks started opening up. I’m no groundsman, but I don’t think you can make cracks go back together that easily, certainly in three days. You’d expect it to do something off the cracks and with it being dry and hot again, you’d expect the spinners to play more of a part.”
If the same pitch is employed – and there is still the chance one of the strips either side is settled on – it may also help Stokes’ reintroduction into the England side.
The 33-year-old has missed four consecutive Tests and the main concern over his return would be the amount of overs he is able to bowl.
On a used pitch, England spinners Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir and part-timer Joe Root can be expected to do the bulk of the bowling, taking the load off Stokes and England’s other seamers.
“When we’re talking about Ben’s workloads and his bowling, it might play into our hands with that, with the spinners potentially playing more of a part,” said Anderson.
“He looks great. He has worked really hard on his fitness and looking as strong as I’ve ever seen him. He’s had a good bowl in the nets and looks good to go.”
It seems most likely Stokes would come into the England side for Chris Woakes. England may also check on the condition of pacemen Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse following their workload in the heat of the first Test, with Matthew Potts on stand-by.
Stokes and Potts were two of only five England players that took part in optional training on Sunday, alongside Bashir, Rehan Ahmed and Jordan Cox.
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