England announce 14-man squad for the 3-match T20I series against Pakistan

[MenInG]

National Selectors name squad for Vitality IT20s against Pakistan

England National Selectors have named a 14-strong squad for the men’s three Vitality IT20s against Pakistan starting on Friday 28 August at Emirates Old Trafford. The three-match series will be played behind closed doors, in a bio-secure environment at the Manchester venue.

England Men’s IT20 Squad:

Eoin Morgan (Middlesex) (captain), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Tom Banton (Somerset), Sam Billings (Kent), Tom Curran (Surrey), Joe Denly (Kent), Lewis Gregory (Somerset), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Dawid Malan (Yorkshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), David Willey (Yorkshire).

Reserves:

Pat Brown (Worcestershire), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Reece Topley (Surrey).

Commenting on the selection of the squad, National Selector Ed Smith, said:

“In this crowded international summer, players who are currently in the Test match bio-secure bubble for the Pakistan Test series are not included in this squad. (The IT20s begin three days after the scheduled last day of the final Test). We want to give multi-format players some opportunity to rest and refresh, while still selecting strong squads for every series. We will announce the squad for the Australia T20 series at a later date.”

The England and Wales Cricket Board have also confirmed the coaching team for the Vitality IT20s against Pakistan.

England assistant coach Graham Thorpe will assume the head coach role for the three-match series. He will be supported by assistant coach Paul Collingwood. Marcus Trescothick, who has been seconded from Somerset, has been appointed batting coach. England Young Lions coach Jon Lewis will be the bowling coach and is supported by former Pakistan international and bowling coach Azhar Mahmood. Former Essex wicketkeeper James Foster will take responsibility for the wicketkeepers.

Ends

Vitality IT20 Series:

1st IT20 v Pakistan: Friday 28 August at Emirates Old Trafford (6.00pm start)
2nd IT20 v Pakistan: Sunday 30 August at Emirates Old Trafford (2.00pm start)
3rd IT20 v Pakistan: Tuesday 1 September at Emirates Old Trafford (6.00pm start)

 

[yadunoe]

Saqib Mahmood is my cousin from barazai village of chhachh, im very happy for him for 2nd chhachhi to play international cricket one for pak one for England

 

[Iddy]

Saqib Mahmood is my cousin from barazai village of chhachh, im very happy for him for 2nd chhachhi to play international cricket one for pak one for England

Good to see a chhachhi! Who was the other chhachhi player?

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan with the firepower they have in bowling should win these games.

 

[Mesozoic]

Even without Root, Stokes, Butler, Archer, Woakes etc.... England can field an incredibly strong T20 team. It's scary really when we look at the depth they have currently.

Billings, Banton, Malan, Livingston, Curran, Jordan etc will all break into most T20 sides around the world.

 

[Sher Khan]

Pakistan with the firepower they have in bowling should win these games.

What firepower are you referring to? England should be disappointed if they dont win 3-0.

 

[Mesozoic]

Pakistan with the firepower they have in bowling should win these games.

I'm sorry am I missing something here ?

Was there a new promising inclusion into the T20 team? Because last time I checked, Pak bowling (Amir, Shaheen, Hasnain(?)) looked pretty ordinary against Australia and even at home against Sri Lanka.

 

[zain7077]

I'm sorry am I missing something here

Was there a new promising inclusion into the T20 team? Because last time I checked, Pak bowling (Amir, Shaheen, Hasnain(?)) looked pretty ordinary against Australia and even at home against Sri Lanka.

You are missing something. Neither Shaheen or Rauf played against Sri Lanka or Australia. They really add to the attack

 

[Mesozoic]

You are missing something. Neither Shaheen or Rauf played against Sri Lanka or Australia. They really add to the attack

Yeah you're right. Apologies. It was Wahab Riaz I think.

But I really don't think Shaheen will play the T20s here. Rauf yes.... looks a great prospect.

 

[shamaan]

What firepower are you referring to? England should be disappointed if they dont win 3-0.

I disagree I think Pakistan will win 2-1

 

[shamaan]

Pakistan should win this t20 series 2-1

With the bowling attack off Shaheen amir rauf husnain shadab and imad

 

[aloo paratha]

Yeah you're right. Apologies. It was Wahab Riaz I think.

But I really don't think Shaheen will play the T20s here. Rauf yes.... looks a great prospect.

I don't see why Shaheen shouldn't play the T20s. We don't have any cricket coming up after this for a while.

 

[hitthestump]

England possess mindblowing depth lol. This is their golden generation, and boy did they deserve it after putting up with Mark Ealham and Craig White for so long.

 

[Mesozoic]

I don't see why Shaheen shouldn't play the T20s. We don't have any cricket coming up after this for a while.

Assuming he'll start in the third Test, Shaheen will have like 48 hours to put his feet up before the T20 series starts.

Don't think Pak management are that dumb.

 

[aloo paratha]

Assuming he'll start in the third Test, Shaheen will have like 48 hours to put his feet up before the T20 series starts.

Don't think Pak management are that dumb.

It's only 4 overs.

 

[Rayyman]

It's only 4 overs.

Usually in T20Is, Pak. goes with:
7. Imad
8. Shadab
9. Wahab
10. Amir

I’m guessing the third pacer will be Hasnain or Rauf.

 

[Mesozoic]

It's only 4 overs.

God help Shaheen if the Pak think-tank has the same thought process as you.

 

[aloo paratha]

God help Shaheen if the Pak think-tank has the same thought process as you.

I hope Shaheen is not so unfit that he can't bowl 4 overs after 2 whole days of rest Probably 3 days of rest actually since most tests end before the 5th day.

 

[aloo paratha]

Usually in T20Is, Pak. goes with:
7. Imad
8. Shadab
9. Wahab
10. Amir

I’m guessing the third pacer will be Hasnain or Rauf.

Which is the wrong way to go IMO. Wahab is only good for PSL, Amir is mediocre as well. I'd say go with the 3 young guns in Shaheen, Hasnain and Rauf. Only concern is batting, they are all genuine tailenders.

 

[Rayyman]

Which is the wrong way to go IMO. Wahab is only good for PSL, Amir is mediocre as well. I'd say go with the 3 young guns in Shaheen, Hasnain and Rauf. Only concern is batting, they are all genuine tailenders.

Wahab will play and needs to be exposed now before the WC. Imo it should be 4 pacers with Imad as the lone spinner, but Shadab is a golden boy. Pretty sure England will smash the leggie to pieces on the small grounds especially Morgan. Amir has been Pakistan’s best T20 bowler in the past couple of years so he should be an automatic selection.

 

[fight_club]

Can anyone please put up Pakistan T20 squad. Have they picked any young batsmen or gone back to likes of Hafeez and Malik?

 

[Abdullah719]

Can anyone please put up Pakistan T20 squad. Have they picked any young batsmen or gone back to likes of Hafeez and Malik?

Hafeez and Malik are part of the squad in England. Khushdil and Haider are there as well.

They haven’t shortlisted a squad for the T20s yet, but any of the 29 currently included in the overall squad can play.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

If they are trying to rest the Test pacers, this is in my opinion the probable playing XI:

1. Babar Azam (c)
2. Haider Ali
3. Mohammad Hafeez
4. Shoaib Malik
5. Shadab Khan
6. Khushdil Shah
7. Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk)
8. Wahab Riaz
9. Mohammad Amir
10. Haris Rauf
11. Mohammad Hasnain

Otherwise they will swap Shaheen for one of Rauf or Hasnain.

 

[Rayyman]

If they are trying to rest the Test pacers, this is in my opinion the probable playing XI:

1. Babar Azam (c)
2. Haider Ali
3. Mohammad Hafeez
4. Shoaib Malik
5. Shadab Khan
6. Khushdil Shah
7. Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk)
8. Wahab Riaz
9. Mohammad Amir
10. Haris Rauf
11. Mohammad Hasnain

Otherwise they will swap Shaheen for one of Rauf or Hasnain.

Fakhar and Imad should definitely play. Iftikhar is not gonna be left out either.

Realistic XI:

Fakhar
Babar*
Hafeez
Sarfraz+
Malik
Iftikhar
Imad
Shadab
Wahab
Amir
Hasnain

^That's 99% the XI. You can quote me if it isn't.

 

[shamaan]

Babar
Fakhar
Haider
Sarfraz
Ifti
Khushdil
Imad
Shadab
Amir
Rauf
Shaheen/husnain

 

[shamaan]

Fakhar and Imad should definitely play. Iftikhar is not gonna be left out either.

Realistic XI:

Fakhar
Babar*
Hafeez
Sarfraz+
Malik
Iftikhar
Imad
Shadab
Wahab
Amir
Hasnain

^That's 99% the XI. You can quote me if it isn't.

I'd say

Fakhar
Babar
Haider sli
Sarfraz
Ifti
Khushdil
Imad
Shadab
Amir
Rauf
Shaheen or husnain

 

[Rayyman]

I'd say

Fakhar
Babar
Haider sli
Sarfraz
Ifti
Khushdil
Imad
Shadab
Amir
Rauf
Shaheen or husnain

Wahab, Malik and Hafeez are definitely playing bro.

 

[shamaan]

Wahab, Malik and Hafeez are definitely playing bro.

Hopefully not we need to look foward and give the youngsters a chance

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Fakhar and Imad should definitely play. Iftikhar is not gonna be left out either.

Realistic XI:

Fakhar
Babar*
Hafeez
Sarfraz+
Malik
Iftikhar
Imad
Shadab
Wahab
Amir
Hasnain

^That's 99% the XI. You can quote me if it isn't.

So no debut for Haider you think? I did overlook Iftikhar, he’ll definitely get the nod over Khushdil I think.

I think it’s 50/50 between Fakhar and Haider but they might be sensing an opportunity to give him a debut as a rare fast tracking of young batting talent. Haider is in both Babar and YK’s good books and I wouldn’t be surprised.

The real issue is Malik and Hafeez. Ideally I would drop both of them and field the following playing XI:

1. Babar Azam (c)
2. Fakhar Zaman
3. Haider Ali
4. Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk)
5. Iftikhar Ahmed
6. Khushdil Shah
7. Shadab Khan
8. Wahab Riaz
9. Mohammad Amir
10. Haris Rauf
11. Shaheen Afridi

This would be more or less the squad i want to develop for 2021 India.

 

[fight_club]

Its just sick to have both hafeez and malik in a T20 team. Now WC is in 2021 get these 35 club kicked out for heaven sake

Haider must play the entire series

 

[hitthestump]

Assuming he'll start in the third Test, Shaheen will have like 48 hours to put his feet up before the T20 series starts.

Don't think Pak management are that dumb.

Lol what? They haven't played since January. If he'd played back to back to back tests i might agree but there's no way he's going to be overcooked for the t20's after having practically the entire 2nd test off.

 

[Rayyman]

So no debut for Haider you think? I did overlook Iftikhar, he’ll definitely get the nod over Khushdil I think.

I think it’s 50/50 between Fakhar and Haider but they might be sensing an opportunity to give him a debut as a rare fast tracking of young batting talent. Haider is in both Babar and YK’s good books and I wouldn’t be surprised.

The real issue is Malik and Hafeez. Ideally I would drop both of them and field the following playing XI:

1. Babar Azam (c)
2. Fakhar Zaman
3. Haider Ali
4. Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk)
5. Iftikhar Ahmed
6. Khushdil Shah
7. Shadab Khan
8. Wahab Riaz
9. Mohammad Amir
10. Haris Rauf
11. Shaheen Afridi

This would be more or less the squad i want to develop for 2021 India.

Imad is infinitely better than Shadab

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Imad is infinitely better than Shadab

Maybe now it is marginally debatable (i personally see Shadab as superior even now because of the complete package) but definitely not after 3 years from now, Imad won’t even be close. Need to back and develop youngsters and drop the unfit 30 year olds with an eye the 2023 World Cup. 2021-22 T20WCs should be used to develop the ‘23 squad.

 

[Rayyman]

Maybe now it is marginally debatable (i personally see Shadab as superior even now because of the complete package) but definitely not after 3 years from now, Imad won’t even be close. Need to back and develop youngsters and drop the unfit 30 year olds with an eye the 2023 World Cup. 2021-22 T20WCs should be used to develop the ‘23 squad.

This complete package that Shadab is just a load of rubbish. Misbah said the same thing after Day 2 of the 1st Test before dropping him for the next match. Shadabs tuk tuk is not good enough for T20Is, and his bowling is very hittable.

Imad keeps things tight against every team and his batting strike rate of 145 is 2nd all time for Pak. after Afridi. He’s 31 so he’s not gonna regress in 3 years.

Pick the team based on who is the better player right now. Not based on who might be better in 3 years...

 

[Thunderbolt14]

This complete package that Shadab is just a load of rubbish. Misbah said the same thing after Day 2 of the 1st Test before dropping him for the next match. Shadabs tuk tuk is not good enough for T20Is, and his bowling is very hittable.

Imad keeps things tight against every team and his batting strike rate of 145 is 2nd all time for Pak. after Afridi. He’s 31 so he’s not gonna regress in 3 years.

Pick the team based on who is the better player right now. Not based on who might be better in 3 years...

Shadab has improved his batting dramatically since his last T20I stint batting for Pakistan. He has himself stated that he began focusing on his batting only during BPL 2019 when people (including many on this forum and myself) had begun to write him off forever as a spinner. It takes courage and dedication to reinvent yourself and that’s exactly what he’s done. As a 21 year old, I will give him a confirmed spot in the team simply for that attitude.

Regarding Imad — one of the issues with Pakistan selection for some years is overemphasis on playing your best squad in T20Is whereas teams like India, Australia, England, use them to develop youngsters. Pakistan has no reason to field Imad, that too against the England B side with Root, Stokes, Archer, Buttler not even playing. Better to take this opportunity to build a younger core team.

 

[Amirforpresident]

Saqib Mahmood is my cousin from barazai village of chhachh, im very happy for him for 2nd chhachhi to play international cricket one for pak one for England

Bro, my family is also from chhachh. Do you know Jalalia?

 

[MenInG]

New Balance unveils new red England T20 kit

Global athletic footwear and apparel brand New Balance has today unveiled the new red England Twenty20 (T20) kit.

The strip will be donned by both the men’s and women’s sides and was first worn earlier this year in the Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia, where England were cruelly knocked out of the tournament at the semi-final stage without a ball being bowled due to rain.

Eoin Morgan’s side will step out in the kit for the first time during their upcoming Vitality IT20 Series against Pakistan, starting at Old Trafford on August 28th.

Inspired by its predecessor, the design was chosen following feedback from players and is a clear, yet concise, kit. The shirt features two shades of red with a deeper shade on the raglan sleeves, as well as a navy collar and white trim to match the printed and embroidered logos. The new kit will go on sale on 19th August and is available from www.newbalance.com

Liam Burns, head of cricket at New Balance, said: “We are really excited to announce the New Balance England T20 Cricket kit. With fans still not being allowed to support the teams in person, we’re hopeful that the launch of this new kit will give them an opportunity wherever they are in the world to get behind the team and unite to show their passion.”

England T20 captain Eoin Morgan said: “Being able to step out in a new kit is always an exciting time and we’re really looking forward to wearing it for the first time against Pakistan. Usually we would urge the fans to pack the stands with the new kit to cheer us on, but hopefully they can do so from the safety of their own homes at the current time.”

England international and New Balance ambassador Jason Roy said: “After an amazing 2019 for English cricket, this feels like a new chapter for us as a team and we are really excited to get started in this new kit. Hopefully it brings us the same luck as our new ODI kit did last summer ahead of what we are sure is going to eventually be an amazing year of cricket for both players and fans.”

England Women’s star and fellow New Balance ambassador Danni Wyatt added: “It was great to wear this kit in Australia earlier this year – since then a lot has changed but we’re excited to be able to get back out on the pitch wearing the kit again and we hope that the fans will join us and show their support wherever they are watching from.”

As well as Roy and Wyatt, New Balance’s roster of domestic cricket talent also includes test captain Joe Root and Mark Wood.

 

[Rayyman]

Shadab has improved his batting dramatically since his last T20I stint batting for Pakistan. He has himself stated that he began focusing on his batting only during BPL 2019 when people (including many on this forum and myself) had begun to write him off forever as a spinner. It takes courage and dedication to reinvent yourself and that’s exactly what he’s done. As a 21 year old, I will give him a confirmed spot in the team simply for that attitude.

Regarding Imad — one of the issues with Pakistan selection for some years is overemphasis on playing your best squad in T20Is whereas teams like India, Australia, England, use them to develop youngsters. Pakistan has no reason to field Imad, that too against the England B side with Root, Stokes, Archer, Buttler not even playing. Better to take this opportunity to build a younger core team.

My T20I top 4 would be: Fakhar, Babar, Amin, Haris

I do not think Shadab and Haider are polished enough to bat in a top order spot at the international level; But I would not mind any of them playing ahead of guys like Hafeez or Iftikhar.

 

[Rayyman]

Hopefully not we need to look foward and give the youngsters a chance

Lol do u not know who our coach is

 

[MenInG]

England will release Pat Brown and Reece Topley today so they can play games for their counties in the Vitality Blast.

Brown will leave this morning and play for Worcestershire this afternoon against Gloucestershire at New Road.

Topley will leave this afternoon and will play for Surrey on Tuesday against Kent at Canterbury.