Match Preview
PAK vs ENG: Pakistan will take on England in the 1st T20I of England Tour of Pakistan 2022. England arrived on Pakistan’s soil to play 7 T20I and 3 tests. The T20 series is set to begin on 20th September 2022. Karachi will be the hosts for this game. Last year, England abandoned their tour of Pakistan, citing security concerns. Both teams will benefit from the series as it will be a good warm-up before the T20 World Cup in October.
Pakistan is in good spirits as they were the finalists in the Asia Cup 2022. However, they were handed a 23-run defeat by Sri Lanka. Their batting unit failed miserably. Babar Azam, the Pakistani skipper, has lost his golden form. He will seek redemption in this series. England, on the other hand, will play under a new skipper, Moeen Ali. Jos Buttler is out owing to a calf injury. England has arrived in Pakistan after a gap of more than a decade. Conditions are new to them. Hence, they are in for a challenging contest initially.
Match Details for PAK vs ENG
Series: England Tour of Pakistan 2022
Date: 20th September 2022 (Tuesday)
Time: 8.00 PM IST
Venue: National Stadium, Karachi
Live streaming: Sony Sports, Sonyliv
Pitch Report for PAK vs ENG
The weather at the venue is expected to be hot and humid throughout the game. The surface looked like a batting paradise in the last PSL. Similar conditions will play out, and it could certainly be a high-scoring game. Batting first would be an ideal choice. Dew is unlikely to make an appearance.
Probable Playing XI
Pakistan
Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain
England
Alex Hales, Phil Salt (wicket-keeper), Dawid Malan, Harry Brook, Will Jacks, Moeen Ali (captain), Sam Curran, Chris Wokaes, Adil Rashid, Richard Gleeson, Reece Topley
Match Predictions for PAK vs ENG
Pakistan is the probable winner of this fixture. They will benefit greatly from having a home-field advantage. Considering the conditions, batters will look to regain their form. England, on the other hand, is missing the services of Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow. They have never played at the venue before, and the weather will wear them out too. So, it will be challenging for them to settle in. Pakistan is also missing their star bowler, Shaheen Afridi, but overall they look like a balanced side on paper. It could be a close contest.
