(Credit- News9)
England will host Pakistan for the second T20I on Saturday, May 25.
England (ENG) and Pakistan (PAK) are set to clash in the second T20I of their four-match series, scheduled for Saturday, May 25 at Edgbaston, Birmingham. The first encounter, held in Leeds, was washed out due to rain without a single delivery being bowled, leaving both teams eager to make an impact in the upcoming fixture.
The English squad is returning to T20I action after an interval of approximately five months, their previous series dating back to December 2023. With the T20 World Cup 2024 looming on the horizon, the reigning champions, under the leadership of Jos Buttler, are keen to fine-tune their skills and strategies in preparation for the prestigious tournament. This series assumes significant importance for the English side, especially considering they won’t have any warm-up matches leading up to the global event.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is also gearing up for their final T20I series before the commencement of the month-long tournament in the West Indies and USA. Led by Babar Azam, the Pakistani team recently contested a three-match T20I series against Ireland, emerging victorious with a 2-1 margin. Eager to maintain their winning momentum, the Men in Green are determined to provide stiff competition to the Three Lions on their home turf.
Pitch Report:
At Edgbaston, the playing surface typically tilts in favor of seam bowlers during the initial stages of the match, posing a formidable challenge for batsmen. The pitch’s characteristics include aiding extra bounce and pace, providing bowlers with an advantageous position in the early exchanges. Nevertheless, should batsmen navigate through the demanding phase and settle in, scoring runs becomes more manageable. As the game progresses, spinners might also find opportunities to impact proceedings. Historical data reveals an average first innings score of 143 runs at this venue. Out of 26 matches played here, the team batting first has clinched victory on 17 occasions. Consequently, the team that wins the toss is likely to opt for batting first, capitalizing on the conditions and historical trends of the ground.
Head-to-Head:
In the realm of T20 cricket, England and Pakistan have squared off in a total of 29 encounters. Among these matchups, England has emerged triumphant in 19 clashes, while Pakistan has celebrated victory on 9 occasions. Additionally, one match concluded without a conclusive result, adding to the rich tapestry of their competitive history.
Playing XI
England (ENG):
Jos Buttler (C & WK), Phil Salt, Jonny Bairstow, Will Jacks, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Moeen Ali, Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer, Reece Topley
Pakistan (PAK):
Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan (wk), Imad Wasim, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Abbas Afridi
Match Prediction-
As per the stats and analysis, Pakistan will take down England today.
