Since the introduction of the T20 format, ODIs and Tests have become less popular around the world.T20 cricket provides an action-packed atmosphere on the ground and usually attracts large crowds. Many cricketers around the world have turned to T20 cricket in a bid to prolong their careers and pocket millions of dollars.

Currently Pakistan cricket team is in England for One-day International and Twenty20 series, starting from July 8 in Cardiff.

Pakistan played their last ODI against England in the 2019 World Cup that they won by 14 runs.

The T20Is and ODIs in England are the best opportunity to finalise the best combination for the T20 World Cup in the UAE this year.

England is one of the most potent sides in both forms of white-ball cricket. Currently they are fourth in the ICC ODI team ranking and first in the T20 format.

Pakistan are sixth and fourth in the ODI and T20I formats, respectively.

The Green-shirts had secured the number one position in January 2018 after defeating New Zealand. They maintained their supremacy in the shortest format of the sport for 27 months.

Most of the Pakistani players are in good form. The Green-shirts have an aggressive top order with Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan, Sharjeel Khan, Fakhar Zaman and Sohaib Maqsood. They can provide a solid start with a good strike rate.

But the middle order is fragile. Haider Ali, Asif Ali and Iftikhar Ahmed have been given chances to solve the lower middle-order issues but their performance has been erratic.

Since September 2019, Pakistan have used 14 players for number 5 and 6. Despite some players’ good performances in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL), the management has still not finalised the players for the two positions.

But head coach Misbah-ul-Haq believes the team combination will be settled before the T20 World Cup. Most of the Pakistani players have a good experience of the UAE where the event will take place.

In England, the ODI combination probably will be Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan, Haris Sohail, Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Usman Qadir and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

For the T20 format, head coach Misbah wants to go with Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan as openers, and Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez and Sohaib Maqsood in the following three positions.

Sohaib has been in good form and can be a handy player in the top order, even in ODIs. In ODIs he averages 31.95 with five fifties in 25 innings while his average in the shortest format is just 13.81, without a fifty.

Azam Khan, who did not have a great PSL this year, may not find a place in the final eleven in England.

England and West Indies experience will be good for the young players who will be part of the upcoming T20 World Cup. The Green-shirts have eight scheduled T20Is before the cup.

Surprisingly, emerging pacer Shahnawaz Dahani has not been selected for England tour although he was the leading wicket-taker in the 2021 Pakistan Super League (PSL) with 20 wickets in 11 games.

It has been reported that Mohammad Wasim, head of the selection committee, principally agreed to include the young pacer in the squad for England, but due to England’s travelling restrictions, Dahani will travel only to the Caribbean where the Green-shirts will play five T20Is.

It has also been reported that the management has decided that Sohaib Maqsood will not play one-dayers. He will get chances only in T20 matches. Skipper Babar Azam and the coach have more confidence in Haris Sohail and Saud Shakeel than Sohaib for ODIs.

As always it will be a tough tour for the young Pakistan team. Conditions for batsmen will be totally different from the UAE. But the players should not blame the conditions. Being professional cricketers, they should be ready to face every challenge.

Handling short balls will be very important for the Pakistani batsmen on fast bowler-friendly tracks.

In the domestic matches, Pakistan’s batsmen score tons of runs as they face little bounce and hardly any movement.

A total of 88 ODIs have been played between the two countries. England have an upper hand with 53 wins. The Green-shirts remained successful in 32 matches.

Javed Miandad remains the highest run-getter against England with 991 runs in 27 matches, averaging 47.19 with one hundred and 10 fifties.

For England, Allan Lamb scored 830 runs in 22 appearances against Pakistan at an average of 41.50, including one century and five half-centuries.

Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and leg-spinner Shahid Afridi have 34 wickets each in 18 and 26 matches, respectively. For the hosts, Chris Woakes is on top with 30 scalps in 13 ODIs.

In the Twenty20 format too, England have an edge with 11 wins in 18 matches. The Green-shirts remained successful only in five matches.

England captain Eoin Morgan has scored 390 runs in 15 matches, averaging 39, including three fifties. For Pakistan, Mohammad Hafeez is the most successful batsman with 289 runs in 12 appearances at an average of 28.90.

England’s Graeme Swann took 17 wickets in nine matches, averaging 10.47. Saeed Ajmal took 11 wickets in nine games, averaging 15.26.

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