ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan men’s cricket team will take on England in the first of the four-match T20I series at Headingley today, Wednesday, in what is expected to be an exciting match ahead of next month’s World Cup.
The last T20I meeting between Pakistan and England took place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022. England edged past Pakistan by five wickets in the close encounter with Sam Curran earning the Player of the Final award for his figures of three for 12.
A full-strength Pakistan cricket team is expected to take the field at Headingley on Wednesday at the back of a 2-1 series win against Ireland in Dublin last week. Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi snapped up the Player of the Match awards in the two victories.
Pakistan men’s white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten also joined the side on 19 May for the first assignment of his two-year tenure.
“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,” said Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, the most successful captain in T20Is with 46 wins.
“We’ve had productive training sessions at Headingley and with head coach Gary Kirsten linking up with the squad, we are focused on fine-tuning our strategies and combinations for the four T20Is against England and T20 World Cup,” he added.
England dominate the T20I rivalry with 19 wins to Pakistan’s nine triumphs, while one game ended as a no-result. England were the winners of the previous bilateral series against Pakistan, clinching the seven T20Is played in Lahore and Karachi 4-3.
Series schedule:
22 May – v England, 1st T20I, Leeds
25 May – v England, 2nd T20I, Birmingham
28 May – v England 3rd T20I, Cardiff
30 May – v England, 4th T20I, The Oval
Pakistan to face England in opening T20I clash at Headingley ahead of World Cup
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Pakistan to face England in opening T20I clash at Headingley ahead of World Cup
- Skipper Babar Azam expresses confidence Pakistan will carry the winning momentum from the Ireland series
- England dominate the T20I rivalry with 19 wins to Pakistan’s nine triumphs, with one game ended as a no-result
DP World ILT20 exposure lays strong foundation for UAE’s World Cup campaign
- ‘Whether you are an experienced player or a prospect, time out in the middle is the most important thing,’ says UAE captain Muhammad Waseem on DP World ILT20’s role in preparing the side
DUBAI: The DP World International League T20 continues to play a meaningful role in strengthening UAE cricket, with the recently concluded fourth season offering players sustained exposure to high-intensity competition alongside leading international names.
As attention now turns to the International Cricket Council’s Men’s T20 World Cup, several UAE players who featured in the tournament will represent the nation on the global stage, carrying forward the experience and confidence gained during the DP World ILT20.
Muhammad Waseem, who secured the coveted Blue Belt (Best UAE Player) for the fourth-year running, amassing 370 runs in 13 innings as MI Emirates made their way to the final, will lead the UAE team.
“Every season, the DP World ILT20 gives UAE players great competitive exposure. Whether you are an experienced player or a prospect, time out in the middle is the most important thing for any player. Adding to that is the fact that you are surrounded by some of the best cricketing minds in the world for over a month. It really helps you understand your game and read match situations. We now hope we can execute those learnings as we head into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” said Waseem.
Haider Ali turned out for Dubai Capitals for a third consecutive season and finished among the side’s leading wicket-takers with 10 wickets. Left-arm pacer Muhammad Jawadullah was also a regular feature for the Capitals, with both bowlers forming part of a formidable attack that included Afghanistan’s Waqar Salamkheil (18 wickets) and Gulbadin Naib (12 wickets), as well as Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman (15 wickets), an experience that augurs well for the duo ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Notably, UAE pacers Junaid Siddique and Rohid Khan were among the most sought-after players at the DP World ILT20 Season 4 Player Auction, securing high-value contracts of $170,000 with Sharjah Warriorz and $140,000 with MI Emirates, respectively. Their acquisitions ranked them as the fourth and fifth most expensive signings at the league’s historic first-ever auction.
Also featuring for the UAE will be Alishan Sharafu and Mayank Kumar (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders), and Muhammad Farooq (Dubai Capitals), all of whom were part of DP World ILT20 Season 4 squads.
