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KARACHI: Pakistan is set to take on England in the first T20I in the seven-match series in Karachi today (Tuesday).
The match will begin at 7pm.
As painful memories of their stunning loss in the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka in Dubai are still fresh, the home squad will put everything on the line for an awe-inspiring victory in the series, England’s first in this country in 17 years.
Four of the seven matches will be played in Karachi on September 20, 22, 23, and 25 while the remaining three will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on September 28, 30, and October 2 by the foreigners, who are visiting the nation for the first time since 2005.
The unprecedented seven-match series will provide both countries with the ideal springboard before the T20 World Cup in Australia, allowing them to test out various lineups for the major competition.
Given that they will be playing an England lineup that is missing key players like Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, and Chris Jordan, Pakistan has the advantage coming into the series.
According to a reliable source within the team management, Pakistan is prepared to play the first game of the series at the National Stadium in Karachi with a new opening partner in Babar. Since more than a year ago, Babar and Rizwan have both routinely started Pakistan’s innings, and they have done so with great success. Rizwan probably won’t be in the starting XI for the first T20I because he joined the team a little bit later.
“In all likelihood, Babar and Shan would start Pakistan’s inning against England in the first T20I. Rizwan is unlikely to participate in the opening period of the matches in Karachi. He is anticipated to rejoin the group.
Expected Playing XI
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Babar Azam (captain), Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Haider Ali/Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain
England: Phil Salt, Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali (captain), Ben Duckett (wicketkeeper), Sam Curran, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley, Mark Wood.
