England and Pakistan are ready to clash in the one-off T20 International in Cardiff on Sunday. The game will kick start the preparations for the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup, which will begin in less than a month's time. Both teams will take this match to test their attacking options which they can use in the mega event. In the previous five meetings between both teams in the T20 format, it is clearly advantage England as they've won four compared to Pakistan's one victory.
For England, the game will provide an opportunity to their fast-bowling strength with the likes of Jofra Archer, Liam Plunkett and Tom Curran will be given a chance to prove their worth. In the batting department, the home side will be heavily relying on captain Eoin Morgan, more so in the absence of players like Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow to score bulk of the runs and put the opposition under pressure.
On the other hand, Pakistan, who are currently ranked as the best team in the shortest format of the game, will come in the match as underdogs as the team from the subcontinent will go without two of their superstars. Leg-spinner Shadab Khan will miss the match due to illness and veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik will miss the tie because of personal reasons.
In their absence, the team will be relying on the likes of in-form Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam to score bulk of the runs in the batting
England and Pakistan are ready to clash in the one-off T20 International in Cardiff on Sunday. The game will kick start the preparations for the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup, which will begin in less than a month's time. Both teams will take this match to test their attacking options which they can use in the mega event. In the previous five meetings between both teams in the T20 format, it is clearly advantage England as they've won four compared to Pakistan's one victory.
For England, the game will provide an opportunity to their fast-bowling strength with the likes of Jofra Archer, Liam Plunkett and Tom Curran will be given a chance to prove their worth. In the batting department, the home side will be heavily relying on captain Eoin Morgan, more so in the absence of players like Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow to score bulk of the runs and put the opposition under pressure.
On the other hand, Pakistan, who are currently ranked as the best team in the shortest format of the game, will come in the match as underdogs as the team from the subcontinent will go without two of their superstars. Leg-spinner Shadab Khan will miss the match due to illness and veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik will miss the tie because of personal reasons.
In their absence, the team will be relying on the likes of in-form Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam to score bulk of the runs in the batting department, whereas on the bowling front, the onus will be on the likes of pacers Hasan Ali and Junaid Khan to provide timely breakthroughs. There will be added focus on players like Mohammad Amir and Asif Ali, who are still having an outside chance to cement their place in the squad for the ICC World Cup.
Player Recommendations:
Batsman: Babar Azam (10.5 Cr)
First in the list of key players features Pakistan's Babar Azam. The right-hander is the number one-ranked batsman in the shortest format of the game, scoring 1,182 runs in 29 matches at an outstanding average of 53.72 and at a strike-rate of 127.78, which included nine half-centuries.
Wicket-keeper: Sarfraz Ahmed (8.5 Cr)
Second in the list of key players features Pakistan's Sarfraz Ahmed. The 31-year-old is a decent customer with the bat in hand, scoring 745 runs in 38 innings at an average of 28.65 and with a strike-rate of 128.67 in T20Is. However, Ahmed will have more responsibility to make a significant contribution with the bat especially in the absence of veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik.
All-rounder: Imad Wasim (9 Cr)
Third in the list of key players features Pakistan's Imad Wasim. The 30-year-old is a real asset for the Green Caps in the shortest format of the game because of his impressive economy-rate of 5.85 to go with 38 wickets in 34 matches. Not only that as Wasim will be coming in this match fresh after scoring a brilliant unbeaten 117 in the practice match against Kent.
Bowler: Jofra Archer (9 Cr)
Last in the list of key players features England's Jofra Archer. The right-arm pacer will be coming in the match eager to prove his worth after having a good season for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL where he claimed 11 wickets in 11 matches at a strike-rate of 23.4 and with an economy-rate of just 6.76.
Predicted Playing XI:
England: Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, James Vince, Eoin Morgan (captain), Joe Denly, Ben Foakes (wicket-keeper), David Willey, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett, Tom Curran
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Abid Ali, Haris Sohail, Sarfraz Ahmed (captain, wicket-keeper), Asif Ali, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Amir, Junaid Khan
