England v Pakistan | 1st T20I | Leeds | May 22 | Pre-Match Discussion

[FearlessRoar]

Before the ICC T20I World Cup 2024, the Pakistan cricket team has one last assignment. A full strength England side will take on Pakistan. Pakistan needs to focus on performance rather than experiments. This series is career defining for Saim Ayub. Let's see how it goes.

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[RidiculousMan]

Lots of thinking for Pakistan to do to find that combination. I don't think they will ever find one and will have to be experimenting in the WT20.

First game. I think England are overwhelming favorites to win the first one.

 

[mominsaigol]

Lots of thinking for Pakistan to do to find that combination. I don't think they will ever find one and will have to be experimenting in the WT20.

First game. I think England are overwhelming favorites to win the first one.

Pakistan's only chance is if they chase. If England chases we lose 100%.

But England has a habit of collapsing with bazzball so if they bat first it can happen.

Sadly we have been reduced to Chase only team

 

[emranabbas]

Pakistan's only chance is if they chase. If England chases we lose 100%.

But England has a habit of collapsing with bazzball so if they bat first it can happen.

Sadly we have been reduced to Chase only team

to be fair i don't think pakistan have a great chance of chasing either, this isn't newzealnd school boy team or ireland
this is england in home conditions.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Has Gary Kirsten and the other support staff linked up with the team today then?

 

[mominsaigol]

to be fair i don't think pakistan have a great chance of chasing either, this isn't newzealnd school boy team or ireland
this is england in home conditions.

I said they have a chance, not that they have a great chance.

Pakistan realistically have no chance against top sides unless a collapse happens which usually happens to top sides here and their, like the Janurary NZ series. We got washed but one a single game due to NZ collapsing.

But it doesn't happen often

 

[emranabbas]

Pakistan's only chance is if they chase. If England chases we lose 100%.

But England has a habit of collapsing with bazzball so if they bat first it can happen.

Sadly we have been reduced to Chase only team

english are very serious about cricket, i've seen young cricketers here in UK young as 10 11 year olds and they probably know more about cricket than the whole pakistan team put together.

 

[emranabbas]

I said they have a chance, not that they have a great chance.

Pakistan realistically have no chance against top sides unless a collapse happens which usually happens to top sides here and their, like the Janurary NZ series. We got washed but one a single game due to NZ collapsing.

But it doesn't happen often

we just have to reply on others to make a mistake to have any realistic chance

 

[mominsaigol]

english are very serious about cricket, i've seen young cricketers here in UK young as 10 11 year olds and they probably know more about cricket than the whole pakistan team put together.

Mate, my university in Sydney is so grueling with its cricket club.

Daily practise + daily workouts + the coach will kick you if he finds out you've been overeating and not keeping up to fitness standards.

And even deapite all of this, only 15 players get selected to play each year, with max 1-2 ever hoping to reach just standard domestic. And I can confidently say, Each of these uni boys would smack hasan Ali level bowlers black and blue. Most of these boys are leagues above players like shadab Khan and their not even domestic level material.

The idea of someone like azam Khan, Hasan ali with 110kph pace, Chacha, Shadab even getting into thei uni team would be an impossibility. Only chacha realistically enters but he hard stops at domestic since he won't get chosen to represent.

 

[emranabbas]

Mate, my university in Sydney is so grueling with its cricket club.

Daily practise + daily workouts + the coach will kick you if he finds out you've been overeating and not keeping up to fitness standards.

And even deapite all of this, only 15 players get selected to play each year, with max 1-2 ever hoping to reach just standard domestic. And I can confidently say, Each of these uni boys would smack hasan Ali level bowlers black and blue. Most of these boys are leagues above players like shadab Khan and their not even domestic level material.

The idea of someone like azam Khan, Hasan ali with 110kph pace, Chacha, Shadab even getting into thei uni team would be an impossibility. Only chacha realistically enters but he hard stops at domestic since he won't get chosen to represent.

this is what pakistan is missing out on, school cricket on a serious level. we have that here in uk. my school had a cricket team playing other schools, then there's like under 16's and university cricket.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Pakistan's only chance is if they chase. If England chases we lose 100%.

But England has a habit of collapsing with bazzball so if they bat first it can happen.

Sadly we have been reduced to Chase only team

true

Because u can't really predict the winning total on such tracks even if you score 200+ that can also get chased.

 

[Barragan]

It looks like it will be a washout.

Best to prepare for the second game.

 

[mominsaigol]

true

Because u can't really predict the winning total on such tracks even if you score 200+ that can also get chased.

I'm referring to Pakistan's bowling. Bowling isn't skilled enough to defend anything given our pedestrian batting line up.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

I'm referring to Pakistan's bowling. Bowling isn't skilled enough to defend anything given our pedestrian batting line up.

same will go with England too.. its not only about Pak bowling lineup!

Even i will rate Pak bowling a bit higher than England's.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

seems like first T20 could be a washout in Leeds.

 

[mominsaigol]

same will go with England too.. its not only about Pak bowling lineup!

Even i will rate Pak bowling a bit higher than England's.

Yes but the point is if Pakistan bats first they can't win because the batting is leagues apart

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Pakistan's only chance is if they chase. If England chases we lose 100%.

But England has a habit of collapsing with bazzball so if they bat first it can happen.

Sadly we have been reduced to Chase only team

Wth bazball have to do with T20 cricket lmao

 

[mominsaigol]

Wth bazball have to do with T20 cricket lmao

So now you're speaking to me again? Lol

Anyway to answer your question, I'm fully aware bazzball is for tests only, but I just use it for England 24/7, cause their the only team that just goes attack attack attack.

SA does it while batting first only while india and Australia are very structured in their approach and game plan and play accordingly although Australia is more flexible then India.

 

[Aami]

Ive got tickets for the game ...but looks like a washout.

 

[emranabbas]

It's notb wash out there's bit of drizzle at 7am and then between 4pm and 6pm and that too on a 50% chance

 

[Cricket Warrior]

It's notb wash out there's bit of drizzle at 7am and then between 4pm and 6pm and that too on a 50% chance

in UK 50% means it will rain 100%

 

[emranabbas]

in UK 50% means it will rain 100%

No it doesn't I've been using the met Office app for years and it's the most accurate app ever

It's too early to say yet we will know on Tuesday

 

[Cricket Warrior]

No it doesn't I've been using the met Office app for years and it's the most accurate app ever

It's too early to say yet we will know on Tuesday

anyways this season is not good at all to play any sort of cricket in UK, we will hardly get 2 matches out of 4 due to this pathetic weather.

 

[cricketmania22]

anyways this season is not good at all to play any sort of cricket in UK, we will hardly get 2 matches out of 4 due to this pathetic weather.

Are there any warm up marches before the WC begins?

 

[mominsaigol]

No it doesn't I've been using the met Office app for years and it's the most accurate app ever

It's too early to say yet we will know on Tuesday

I did my undergraduate from the UK bro, it's always raining their lol especially in May

 

[globetrotter]

It’s an acid test for Pakistan team….. England looks much stronger…. 90-10 in favor of England

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Pre match drills in full swings

 

[Rana]

Pre match drills in full swings

Net 1: Babar+Saim

Net 2: Ifti+ Fakhar

So Babar and Saim will prepare against pace whilst Ifti and Fakhar paired to practice against spin?

Looks like it will be Babar+Saim as openers

 

[Rana]

Net stick:

Rizwan
Azam
Imad
Shadab


What’s going on here?

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Imad Wasim speaking in a press conference today:

Winning always gives you extra confidence. If we do well against England then obviously, we will take this confidence into the World Cup as well. Injuries can happen any time and our medical panel is quite good. We're managing the workloads of our pacers.

I really enjoy playing in Leeds, although, every ground in England has its own conditions and we would like to do well wherever we go.

Gary Kirsten had his first meeting with the boys yesterday. He looked really adamant and spoke some logical things that we all acknowledged. We will try to carry the momentum gained after a comeback series victory against Ireland.

I think the setback of losing a game against Ireland was good in a way that it happened before the World Cup and not during the mega event.

Because after such failures, you cannot relax for even one match and England is such a team that they don't let you relax anyway. We sat after the game against Ireland, and we all said the same thing that we cannot relax now.

We are now looking to play every match with the same intensity as we play after losing a game. We are looking at our mistakes and we're fixing them quickly. The meetings that have been conducted were quite significant as our coaches talked to us.

Our chairman and captain also did the same and we can sense as a team that things are looking different this time around and it seems that all of them want to do something different and hopefully, you will see that difference soon.

As I said earlier, I love playing at Leeds and the innings against Afghanistan at the World Cup was extremely memorable. It doesn't happen all the time and the Almighty was really kind that day."

 

[Human786]

Weather forecast & what kind o pitch do you expect & & & the English bowling line-up [ 5+1] ?

 

[cricketmania22]

Babar Azam has a visible belly. For a top athlete to have such a body is criminal? No wonder his performance had gone down too.

 

[Human786]

Babar Azam has a visible belly. For a top athlete to have such a body is criminal? No wonder his performance had gone down too.

chota sa bump hai - kabhi Azam K to check karo - you can carve 2 Babar out of him & a quarter Rizzu !

 

[cricketmania22]

chota sa bump hai - kabhi Azam K to check karo - you can carve 2 Babar out of him & a quarter Rizzu !

Yea but he’s int the benchmark. He shouldn’t showing any bumps. He is not pregnant.

 

[pakistani pride]

Babar with a tummy and skinny legs. 0 work ethic. No wonder he is fine with Azam.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Babar with a tummy and skinny legs. 0 work ethic. No wonder he is fine with Azam.

When Azam can get selected so we can't expect much improvement in the fitness standards of our team.

 

[pakistani pride]

When Azam can get selected so we can't expect much improvement in the fitness standards of our team.

True, fitness levels are pathetic. Babar leading from the front, with extra kilos around his waist!

 

[Cricket Warrior]

True, fitness levels are pathetic. Babar leading from the front, with extra kilos around his waist!

yeah looking horrible with his tummy out.

 

[PakLFC]

We need to play those who will take part in the WC. Not much time to experiment now.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Riz and Saim are going to open again I guess in the 1st game. Saim needs to wake up else he should be benched for someone else like Fakahr to take his spot at the top. No need to keep him playing for nothing.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Looks like the skies over Leeds are gonna open up with a 70% chance of rain in this game and with humidity hitting the roof at around 90%, the game’s gonna be a real soggy mess.

It’s really disappointing when the weather decides to play spoilsport. I guess it won't be a 4-0 in the end.

 

[mominsaigol]

Looks like the skies over Leeds are gonna open up with a 70% chance of rain in this game and with humidity hitting the roof at around 90%, the game’s gonna be a real soggy mess.

It’s really disappointing when the weather decides to play spoilsport. I guess it won't be a 4-0 in the end.

1st t20 is a washout. Theirs no way this game is happening with 90% chance of rain

 

[BouncerGuy]

As per reports:

Jos Buttler, the captain of England’s white-ball team, might not be able to play the entire four-match T20I series against Pakistan, which kicks off on May 22 in Leeds.

As per a report from inews.co.uk, Buttler’s wife, Louise, is due to give birth to their third child in the coming days, which could require him to leave at any moment.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Nice preparation. We will barely get to play 2 games.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Would be better if this series was happening in USA

 

[BouncerGuy]

England has always been a bad venue for cricket because rain spoils the game more often.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Nice preparation. We will barely get to play 2 games.

It could help.

I don't see the need for so much warm up.

The preparation series last longer than the bloody world cups themselves.

The boys shouldn't go in overcooked.

 

[Usman Chadda]

It could help.

I don't see the need for so much warm up.

The preparation series last longer than the bloody world cups themselves.

The boys shouldn't go in overcooked.

Someone like Naseem Shah or Haris Rauf might be going in undercooked?

Although you could alternatively make the argument that getting a beating from England few days before the World Cup wouldn't be great for the morale too

 

[emranabbas]

Washed 90% chance of rain throughout the day

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Someone like Naseem Shah or Haris Rauf might be going in undercooked?

Although you could alternatively make the argument that getting a beating from England few days before the World Cup wouldn't be great for the morale too

Better undercooked than cooked.

A bad run up can derail a whole campaign. Just like what happened in Asia Cup.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

England has always been a bad venue for cricket because rain spoils the game more often.

that's SL. Eng is the best venue for cricket IMO.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

I hope Shadab is working hard in the nets and regains his form in time for wt20. Pak does well when he fires (which isn't really often)

 

[The Bald Eagle]

ICC T20 World Cup 2022 finalists go toe-to-toe in build-up to next month’s event

Leeds, 21 May 2024: The Pakistan men’s cricket team will take on England in the first of the four-match T20I series at Headingley on Wednesday. The remaining three matches will be held in Birmingham (25 May), Cardiff (28 May) and The Oval, London (30 May), before the two teams depart for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies.

The last T20I meeting between Pakistan and England took place at the MCG 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.

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.

Pakistan men’s white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten joined the side on 19 May for the first assignment of his two-year tenure.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who is the most successful captain in T20Is with 46 wins, said: “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.

“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.”

Squads (to be selected from):

England: Jos Buttler (captain), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley and Mark Wood

Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usman Khan

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

 

[RagingJ]

Ive got tickets for the game ...but looks like a washout.

I do too, any idea what the refund policy is like if it is washed out? We are travelling from Glasgow, so seems like it will be a wasted trip haha

 

[alishahid]

Weather in leeds today showed rain but now precipitation at 10%. Things might change for tomorrow as well. Hopefully its a cloudy typical day of english cricket tomorrow with babar getting his cool daddy fifties

 

[pakistani pride]

I hope Shadab is working hard in the nets and regains his form in time for wt20. Pak does well when he fires (which isn't really often)

LOL he has been pathetic for a long period. He first needs to work on his fitness.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Weather in leeds today showed rain but now precipitation at 10%. Things might change for tomorrow as well. Hopefully its a cloudy typical day of english cricket tomorrow with babar getting his cool daddy fifties

I was hoping that all the rain would fall today so it's clear tomorrow.

We are travelling in a group of 20.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

 

[TeymurBlake]

In the year 2024, cricket should not be causing washouts to matches. How is it still going on?

ECB are one of the best run cricket boards as well as modern & methodical organisations, surely they would have done something about this.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Captain Jos Buttler says England's "pride was dented" by their disappointing defence of the 50-over World Cup last year

England failed to make it out of the group stage in India, finishing seventh with six defeats in nine matches.

They start a four-match T20 series against Pakistan at Headingley on Wednesday, their only preparation before their defence of the T20 World Cup begins on 4 June against Scotland at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.

"That pride was obviously dented and it was a really disappointing competition," Buttler said.

"But life moves on, it's a chapter in the book and there's lessons you learn but we're presented with a new opportunity, a different format.

"We go to the West Indies and want to give a better account of ourselves."

The weather forecast is poor for Wednesday's series opener in Yorkshire - a repeat of the 2022 T20 World Cup final which England won in Melbourne.

Bowler Mark Wood and all-rounder Liam Livingstone will miss the match because of knee niggles but fast bowler Jofra Archer will make his first England appearance since March, weather-permitting.

"He's bowling quick," Buttler said.

"It was good fun facing him in the nets yesterday - a really good challenge. It's great to see him back.”

The match is England's first men's international of the summer and the white-ball side's first this year.

They were beaten by West Indies, the co-hosts of the upcoming World Cup with the United States, in their most recent T20 and ODI series in December following the 50-over World Cup.

England's poor performance in India included dismal defeats to Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and South Africa - the latter their heaviest loss in terms of runs in a one-day international.

England's players involved in the Indian Premier League returned early last week to play a full part against Pakistan, while Buttler has admitted he must improve his own communication as captain.

"Sometimes by trying to give people freedom, maybe you can sometimes hold back too much and not make sure that people are clear in their roles or have clarity," he said, reflecting on what he learned from the campaign in India.

He said he was happy to return from the IPL but said the international cricket should not clash with the tournament in the future.

"It's really important for us to spend that time together," Buttler said.

Source: BBC

 

[cricketmania22]

His head and body are not in sync. Weird position and balance. This looks more like a tennis shot position with torso rotation.

 

[apnapind]

I was hoping that all the rain would fall today so it's clear tomorrow.

We are travelling in a group of 20.

So what are the chances of rain is it a washout plz give us any news about it.

 

[Shoaib Akhtar 100 MPH]

In the year 2024, cricket should not be causing washouts to matches. How is it still going on?

ECB are one of the best run cricket boards as well as modern & methodical organisations, surely they would have done something about this.

What can any board do about the weather bro other than have a retractable roof like the Millennium stadium which aint gonna happen.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

What can any board do about the weather bro other than have a retractable roof like the Millennium stadium which aint gonna happen.

ECB must simply avoid arranging any series specially in summers.

 

[heddie19]

Weather is getting better for tomorrow's match? Any local here?

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Weather is getting better for tomorrow's match? Any local here?

its getting even more intense... seems like a washout!

 

[heddie19]

its getting even more intense... seems like a washout!

View attachment 143973

Where do you live? and which app is this?

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Where do you live? and which app is this?

BBC weather app

 

[alishahid]

definitely weather getting better. Not raining as predicted

 

[YousafTheBeast]

BBC weather app

Met office is more reliable, I think we’ll get a 20 over game if the outfield isn’t wet.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

LOL he has been pathetic for a long period. He first needs to work on his fitness.

He was brilliant throughout wt20 2021 and 2022 with the ball. With bat, he struck a wonderful 22 ball 50 against SA in 2022.
His form and fitness have been severely lacking since wt20 2022, but he remains a key performer if Pak is to do well as our team is dependent on few individuals.

 

[Shoaib Akhtar 100 MPH]

ECB must simply avoid arranging any series specially in summers.

That's impossible.

How would they make money.

Cricket is a summer sport.

 

[heddie19]

Match has been called off.

 

[Aami]

I do too, any idea what the refund policy is like if it is washed out? We are travelling from Glasgow, so seems like it will be a wasted trip haha

full refund within 28 days...in to the a/c.