LAHORE: Pakistan could make three changes to their playing XI for the first T20I against England on May 22 in Leeds.
Fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, along with top-order batter Usman Khan, are likely to be included in the lineup. Opener Saim Ayub and pacer Hasan Ali, who were part of the third T20I against Ireland in Dublin recently, could be dropped.
Haris and Usman didn’t feature in the three-match T20I series against Ireland, which Pakistan won 2-1.
Meanwhile, the team management is also considering dropping one pacer in order to open up a spot for either Shadab Khan or Abrar Ahmed.
Pakistan are likely to field their full-strength team during the England series in order to test their World Cup combination.
The final decision will be taken after consultation with head coach Gary Kirsten, who is set to join the Pakistan squad tomorrow.
The four-match series between Pakistan and England will be both team’s last assignment before the T20 World Cup, which begins on June 1 in the United States and West Indies.
England squad
Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonathan Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, Mark Wood.
Pakistan squad
Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Khan
Schedule
May 22: First T20I at Leeds
May 25: Second T20I at Birmingham
May 28: Third T20I at Cardiff
May 30: Fourth T20I at The Oval
Sohail Imran
Sohail Imran is a senior reporter for Geo News.
