Squads –
ENG –
Zak Crawley, James Vince, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes(c), Daniel Lawrence, Ben Duckett(w), Lewis Gregory, Craig Overton, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson, Jake Ball, Danny Briggs, John Simpson, Philip Salt, Brydon Carse, Will Jacks, Tom Helm, David Payne
PAK –
Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam(c), Sohaib Maqsood, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Qadir, Agha Salman, Abdullah Shafique
Team News –
ENG –
– England has declared a completely new squad after 7 members of the squad that played against Sri Lanka tested positive for Covid-19.
– Ben Stokes has been appointed as the captain of the team with 12 uncapped players in the 18 men squad.
– Zak Crawley or Phil Salt and James Vince will likely be the openers of the team. Vince has good experience of 1st class Cricket and will be an important player in the series.
– Dawid Malan will bat at 1 down. Malan is one of the most experienced guy in the team with 5000+ List A runs and scored 50 against Sri Lanka last series.
– Ben Stokes will bat at 2 down followed by Dan Lawrence or Will Jacks. Stokes played for Durham in T20 blast and looked good with both bat and bowl. Will Jacks is having a terrific run from last 2 T20 blasts and will be keen to perform at the biger stage.
– Lewis Gregory will act as a proper Allrounder. Craig Overton can also bat.
– Matt Parkinson and Danny Briggs will lead the spin attack.
– Craig Overton, Saqib Mahmood/Jake Ball, Lewis Gregory and Ben Stokes will lead the pace attack.
PAK –
– Pakistan team will be delighted after a full squad change of the England side and will be looking to win or even whitewash the English side.
– Haris Sohail is unlikely to feature in the 1st ODI due to a injury.
– Imam ul haq and Fakhar Zaman will open the innings. Both are completely opposite in batting style but form a really good partnership.
– Babar Azam will bat at 1 down. Babar has been on his top form from the last 1-2 years and his form will be important to decide to outcome of the series.
– Mohammad Rizwan will bat at 2 down followed by Shoiab Maqsood. Maqsood recently won the player of series award in PSL2021. Rizwan will keep the Wickets.
– Shadab Khan, Faheen Ashraf and Mohammad Nawaz will contribute through both bat and bowl.
– Nawaz and Shadab will handle the spin department. Nawaz can also bowl in powerplay.
– Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali and Faheen Ashraf will lead the pace bowling of team.
Probable XI –
ENG –
Zak Crawley/Phil Salt, James Vince, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes (c), Dan Lawrence/Ben Duckett/Will Jacks(any 2), Lewis Gregory, Craig Overton, Matt Parkinson, Danny Briggs, Saqib Mahmood/Jake Ball.
PAK –
Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Sohaib Maqsood, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf
Pitch Report –
Sophia Gardens , Cardiff
Cardiff is 2nd lowest scoring Wicket in T20 blast with an average score of 150 in T20s. Wickets for ODIs is expected to be neutral with both Batsman and bowlers getting equal support. Spinners can play a big role as game progresses.
Team Blueprint –
WK –
M Rizwan ( 2 down, RHB + wk, has been on his peak form, 772 runs in ODIs, 500 runs in 12 games this PSL, Must have)
Phil Salt( Open, RHB + wk, very attacking batsman, 262 runs in just 7 innings this T20BLAST with an average of 52 and SR of 152, Must )
Ben Duckett( LHB + wk, generally bats in top order, 2300 List A runs with a good SR of 99, 248 runs in 9 innings this T20BLAST)
John Simpson( Middle order, very experienced Wicket keeper, can try in GL as will not be useful in SL)
BAT –
Babar Azam ( 1 down, RHB, #1 ODI Batsman in world cricket, 554 runs in 11 innings last PSL, 228 runs in 3 games lasg series against South Africa)
Imam ul haq ( Open,LHB, technically very strong, 539 runs in England averaging 56, Must have)
James Vince( Open, RHB, very talented Cricketer with 4900 List A runs, Must have)
Dawid Malan( 1 down, LHB , #1 T20 Batsman in world cricket, loads of experience with 151 List A games and 5200 runs, Must have)
Fakhar Zaman ( Open, LHB, very attacking batsman, 287 runs in 10 games in PSL2021, have scored 294 runs against England in 7 games with a healthy SR of 108)
Zak Crawley( Open,RHB, attacks from the very first ball, 268 runs in just 7 innings this Blast, 743 List A runs in 24 games)
S Maqsood ( Middle order, RHB, was in form of his life this PSL and National T20 series, scored 428 runs in 12 games at a SR of 156 this PSL, Must pick in GL)
ALL –
Ben Stokes( 2 down, LHB + right hand bowl, one of the best Allrounders around, Must have)
Faheem Ashraf ( lower middle order, LHB + Medium pacer, known for his big hitting and swing bowling, 9 Wickets in 8 games this psl, just 3 Wickets in 4 innings in England)
Shadab Khan( Middle order, RHB + Leg spin, form was poor this psl, 383 runs + 69 Wickets in ODIs)
Will Jacks( RHB + off spin, generally opens in T20s, 369 runs this T20 Blast, must have even if bats in middle)
Lewis Gregory( RHB + Right Arm medium fast, very attacking batsman + can also bowl in death, 12 Wickets this T20BLAST, 106 List A Wickets )
M Nawaz( Slow left arm + good hitter, can also bowl in powerplay, 66 runs + 4 Wickets in h2h battle against England, experienced)
Dan Lawrence( Middle order, RHB + off spin, very talented Cricketer, 670 runs + 11 Wickets in List A carrer)
BOWL –
Jake Ball( Right Arm medium fast, known for his variations, 118 List A Wickets and 18 this T20 Blast, Must have)
Shaheen Afridi ( Left arm fast, one of the best bowlers in world cricket currently, 16 Wickets in 10 games this psl, 6 Wickets in 3 games against SA last series)
Hasan Ali( Right Arm Fast, hit the deck bowler, can also bat, 13 Wickets this PSL, very good h2h record with 14 Wickets in 10 innings)
Haris Rauf( Right Arm Fast, hit the bowler, 10 Wickets in 9 games this PSL, 7 Wickets in 3 games against SA last series)
Saqib Mahmood( Right Arm Fast, hit the deck bowler, 5 Wickets in 4 ODIs played, 12 Wickets in just 5 games in PSL2021, Must have)
C Overton( Right Arm Fast medium, very experienced Cricketer with 90 List A Wickets, can also bat )
M Parkinson( Leg Spinner, very good bowler with 42 List A Wickets with an economy just under 6, 13 Wickets this T20BLAST, Must have)
Usman Qadir ( Leg spin, 39 List A Wickets in 30 games, can try if plays)
Danny Briggs( Slow left arm, very experienced domestic cricketer with 100+ games, 10 Wickets this T20BLAST)
David Payne( Right Arm medium fast, known for his death bowling, excellent record picking 110 Wickets in 66 games, Must have if plays)
C/VC Options –
ENG –
Ben Stokes
Dawid Malan
Lewis Gregory
PAK –
Babar Azam
Mohammad Rizwan
Fakhar Zaman