(Part 10)

"But the lineup has so many pacers…" Cassiel observed, his brow furrowed in confusion, "From what I know, Quetta's pitches are a haven for spinners. Why are we prioritizing pacers in the team?"

Nagi gave him a brief glance remaining silent.

"We figured you'd ask that," Pedro said with a calm smile. "It's because of the weather. The monsoon rains have left the pitches damp, creating perfect conditions for pacers. Of course, if the rains hold off, we've got spinners in the lineup who can take control of the game," he explained, glancing momentarily at Evandor and Gabriel.

Cassiel nodded thoughtfully, "So even Quetta's traditionally spinner-friendly pitches can become more favorable for pacers when they're damp due to rain," 

Pedro nodded in agreement, "Exactly. Historically, this time of year leaves Quetta's pitches slow to dry after rain, so we're betting pacers will have the upper hand. That said, if conditions dry faster than expected, the spinners are ready to step up."

Nagi chimed in, "And we have a diversified pace attack. Alongside sheer speed, bowlers like Azazel, Orion, and Alan can deliver slower balls and off-cutters, which are effective on sticky surfaces where the ball grips."

"Our fielding strategy can also adapt to the conditions. On wet pitches, we can tighten the slip cordon and position fielders to catch edges and mistimed strokes. If it dries and spinners dominate, we can go aggressive, packing the infield to create pressure," Kazuna added,

The middle schoolers nodded, listening intently.

"You're right," Helios said pensively.

"And, what about batting?" Ryan inquired.

Noah flashed a confident grin at Haruf, "There's no issue when we're on this team, right big guy?"

Haruf chimed in, "Hm, on a damp pitch, we'll focus on quick singles and avoid risky shots. On a dry pitch, we'll attack strategically, exploiting gaps and sweeping spinners out of the equation. Ezekiel and Adam will thrive in those situations, right?"

"Of course!" Adam exclaimed, punching the air as Ezekiel responded with a confident grin.

Finally, Nidou, who had been silent, spoke up, "This lineup isn't just about conditions. It's built for flexibility. Whether it's damp or dry, your job is to exploit the opposition's weaknesses. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!" they all chorused in unison. Ren, smiling, looked at the seat ahead of him.

"Now, this sounds much better, don't you agree, boss?" Rauf replied with a quiet hum.

"I just hope it doesn't rain," Nagi muttered.

"Me too," Aaron agreed.

"So, how long until we reach Quetta?" Heber asked impatiently, drumming his fingers on his seat.

"Yeah, I want to start practicing as soon as possible," Azazel added firmly.

"Quetta, huh…" Musa smirked mischievously, "Brace yourselves, brats, because you won't be getting there anytime soon."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ryan asked, narrowing his eyes.

The high schoolers glanced at each other knowingly yet silent.

"It's a fourteen-hour ride from Lahore to Quetta by coach," Musa said, leaning back smugly, "Since we left at 1:00 PM…"

"We'll reach Quetta at 3:00 AM?!" Feng, Ezekiel, Heber, and Azazel blurted out in unison, their voices a mix of disbelief and horror.

"Bingo!" Musa grinned, clearly enjoying their reaction.

"You've got to be kidding me…" Cassiel muttered, rubbing his temple.

"We'll die at this rate! Who can sit still for that long?!" Feng wailed dramatically, throwing his arms up.

"This long…?" Seraph echoed, his gaze shifting to Nidou, who glanced at Senri and Rauf, immediately looking ahead.

"Yup, this long," Orion said, sighing, "And we can all thank a certain someone who's terrified of heights. Otherwise, we'd have taken a flight." His eyes flicked toward Senri with a pointed look.

Senri, however unbothered, gave a pleased shrug, "You're welcome."

"Little brat." Ren remarked amused.

"Don't worry, young ones," Seles interjected with a calming smile, "The seats recline. Just push the lever back, and you'll be able to lie down comfortably. And we'll stop for a breather midway. So, for a while relax yourself."

"And the match?" Xavier asked.

"Your match is held three Days later since there was a gap due to a public holiday. Don't worry everything is under control," Pedro assured.

Yet, the middle schoolers exchanged weary looks, lines of exhaustion already forming on their faces. Without further complaint, they sank into their seats, while the high schoolers stretched out and made themselves comfortable, resigning themselves to the long journey ahead.