Pakistan eye comeback after demoralizing defeat in ODIs
England will face Pakistan in the three-match T20I series, starting from Friday in Nottingham.
The home team will be coming into this series with high confidence after securing an impressive whitewash in the recently concluded ODI series against the same opposition.
Therefore, the team management will be hoping that the players will continues to produce a match-winning display.
On the other hand, the visitors will be coming into this contest extremely low on confidence, especially after suffering a series sweep against an inexperienced England team who were selected just 48 hours before the first ODI, after seven members of the original squad tested positive for Covid-19.
The management will be hoping that players will be able to turn things around and produce a much better display in the upcoming T20I series.
Both teams have competed in 18 matches in the history of T20Is where England have a clear advantage with 11 wins compared to Pakistan’s five victories.
England Team News
Despite a comfortable win in the ODI series, England have announced a stronger squad with as many as 11 changes.
In the batting department, the home team will be relying on the likes of captain Eoin Morgan, explosive opening batsman Jason Roy, star wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow to score bulk of the runs.
On the bowling front, the onus will be on the likes of pacers Chris Jordan, Saqib Mahmood, David Willey and leg-spinner Adil Rashid to produce timely breakthroughs.
Pakistan Team News
After suffering a humiliating defeat against a weakened England side, Pakistan are likely to go in with full force and make some notable changes as well.
The most concerning aspect for the team management will be the performance of players who have been playing international cricket for a while but yet could not compete in any department; that too against a bunch of players who had less than 48 hours to participate in the recently concluded series.
The return of experienced duo of all-rounders Mohammad Hafeez and Imad Wasim will be a major boost for the team.
In the batting department, the Green Caps will be heavily relying on the likes of in-form captain Babar Azam, dangerous Sohaib Maqsood and Hafeez to score bulk of the runs and give the bowlers something to bowl with.
The fitness of star wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan is a concern after he suffered an injury while keeping in the third ODI.
On the bowling front, the onus will be on the likes of pacers Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and leg-spinner Usman Qadir to produce timely breakthroughs.
Predictions:
Both teams will be taking this series very seriously in a bid to prepare for the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup which is set to be organised later this year in the United Arab Emirates.
On paper, Pakistan look a far more settled side compared to their opponents but a thumping defeat in the recently concluded ODI series is likely to have a serious impact on the outcome of the contest.
Therefore, the prediction is for England to continue their winning run and secure a T20I series triumph.
