Cricket

Thrilling T20I Series Set to Unfold Between Pakistan and England

The Pakistan men’s cricket team is gearing up to face England in a much-anticipated four-match T20I series, starting on Wednesday at Headingley. The series will continue with matches in Birmingham on 25 May, Cardiff on 28 May, and will conclude at The Oval in London on 30 May. Both teams will use this series as a crucial preparation ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies.

The last T20I clash between these two cricketing powerhouses was at the MCG during the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, where England narrowly defeated Pakistan by five wickets. Sam Curran was the standout performer, claiming the Player of the Final award for his exceptional figures of three for 12.

Pakistan comes into this series with confidence, having secured a 2-1 series victory against Ireland in Dublin last week. Key players Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi were instrumental in these victories, each earning Player of the Match honors. The team, led by Babar Azam, is expected to field a full-strength squad in the opener at Headingley.

Historically, England has dominated the T20I rivalry with 19 wins compared to Pakistan’s nine, with one game ending in a no-result. The previous bilateral series saw England emerge victorious with a 4-3 win over Pakistan in the seven matches played in Lahore and Karachi.

This series also marks the beginning of Gary Kirsten’s tenure as Pakistan’s men’s white-ball head coach. Kirsten joined the squad on 19 May, and his strategic insights will be pivotal as Pakistan fine-tunes their preparations for the World Cup.

Babar Azam, the most successful captain in T20I history with 46 wins, expressed his optimism ahead of the series. “I am confident that Pakistan will carry the winning momentum from the Ireland series into the England T20Is. Our 2-1 victory in Dublin showcased the brilliance of our batters and bowlers, while also providing us with learnings as we aim to work on our areas of improvement,” Azam stated. He added that the team has had productive training sessions at Headingley, and with Kirsten now on board, they are focused on refining their strategies and combinations for the series and the upcoming World Cup.

Squads:

England: Jos Buttler (captain), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, Mark Wood

Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan

Series Schedule:

  • 22 May – 1st T20I, Leeds
  • 25 May – 2nd T20I, Birmingham
  • 28 May – 3rd T20I, Cardiff
  • 30 May – 4th T20I, The Oval

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