Pakistan and England are all set to lock horns in the first T20I of the seven-game T20 international series as both teams gear up for the T20 World Cup in Australia the following month.
The T20I on Tuesday (September 20) will mark as the first game between Pakistan and England in Pakistan after a long break of 17 years. The last time England toured Pakistan was in 2005–2006.
Last year, however, the England squad was supposed to visit Pakistan, but they opted not to due to security concerns.
Both team will try to set their team combination by keeping in mind the next month’s marquee event in Australia.
Babar Azam as expected will lead the Pakistan team, while Jos Buttler, who appointed as full-time captain some months ago after England’s world cup captain Eoin Morgan took retirement, will continue to be in charge of the English Side.
The first match will take place at the National Stadium in Karachi on September 20.
The two teams will go to Australia to compete in the premier event following the seven-match T20I series, then after the T20 World Cup in 2022, the English squad will return to Pakistan for a three-match Test series.
PAK Vs ENG 1st T20I Playing XI (Predicted)
Pakistan XI
Babar Azam ©, Shadab Khan (vc), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf
England XI
Jos Buttler (c & wk), Moeen Ali (vc), Harry Brook, Jordan Cox (wicketkeeper), Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley, David Willey, Mark Wood
PAK Vs ENG 1st T20I: Players to watch out for
The key players to watch out for in the 1st T20 would be Babar Azam and Asif Ali as batters, Rizwan Khan as wicket-keeper. Shadab Khan as an all-rounder. While Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf will lead the bowling department for Pakistan.
Dawid Malan, Harry Brook and Jos Buttler are the strongest batters in England’s side. While Adil Rashid and Reece Topley as bowlers.
