Pakistan’s challenges and England’s strategy around Jofra Archer

LEEDS: As Pakistan prepares to face England in a four-match T20I series set to commence from Wednesday, there are several areas that the Pakistan men’s cricket team need to work on.

The T20 series will be the final outing for both, England and Pakistan before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Pakistan’s performance against Ireland revealed several areas of weakness that need to be addressed before the upcoming world cup.

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Pakistan faces pressing concerns with its opening slot as Saim Ayub’s inconsistency alongside Babar Azam raises doubts about their effectiveness. With only 284 runs in 18 innings, Saim’s performance is under scrutiny, making the England series crucial for his validation or Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan will reunite as openers.

Similarly, Pakistan’s middle-order instability persists despite talents like Azam Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed. The challenge of selecting the right combination and positions remains, with Usman Khan’s inclusion leading to Azam Khan’s exclusion, complicating the lineup further.

While Pakistan has a wealth of pace bowlers at its disposal, including Mohammad Amir and Shaheen Afridi, challenges persist in finding the right balance. The presence of spin options adds complexity, requiring Pakistan to optimise their bowling attack for the England series.

Meanwhile, England is eager for Jofra Archer’s return, whose absence due to injury had been felt. Archer’s pace and ability to instill fear in opposition batsmen had made him a vital asset for England.

Despite his prolonged absence from professional cricket, Archer’s recent performances in domestic cricket had indicated a promising return to form. England’s all-rounder Sam Curran had expressed excitement about Archer’s comeback, emphasizing the impact of his presence on the team’s dynamics.

England, the reigning T20 champions, had aimed to regain momentum ahead of the T20 World Cup. Jos Buttler’s men had been determined to rectify their disappointing performance in the 50-over World Cup and reaffirm their status as a dominant force in white-ball cricket. With the squad’s energy and enthusiasm palpable, England had anticipated a successful campaign against Pakistan.

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As the series had unfolded across Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff, and The Oval, both Pakistan and England had confronted critical challenges and opportunities. The outcome of those matches had not only shaped their immediate preparations for the T20 World Cup but had also provided valuable insights into their strengths and weaknesses.