Pakistan face new-look England in Super League challenge

England vs Pakistan, first ODI
Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
8 July, 01:00pm local

On the second away leg of their Cricket World Cup Super League campaign, Pakistan will look to emulate the success of their trip to South Africa, where they claimed 20 of the 30 available points with wins in Centurion.

The visitors face a completely new England ODI side to the one that took on Sri Lanka, after three players and four members of the management staff tested positive for COVID-19

All-rounder Ben Stokes takes the leadership reins for the first time in ODI cricket, having previously led England in a home Test against the West Indies last year. As many as nine members of England's squad are yet to play one-day international cricket, as the team travel to Sophia Gardens looking to extend their country's lead on the Super League table.

Despite the circumstances, Managing Director of England Men's Cricket, Ashley Giles, says the situation provides an opportunity for strong performers in county cricket to impress and for Stokes to exhibit his leadership nous.

"Ben hasn't captained our ODI side before so it's a huge honour for him. We all wish him well and it's a role I'm sure he'll thrive in.

"It's an exciting group of players, with some young talent and some players who have impressed at domestic level over a long period of time."

REMEMBER LAST TIME

Pakistan return to play ODI cricket in the United Kingdom for the first time since 2019, where they took on England in a five-match series before the Cricket World Cup. While the touring side lost the series 4-0, they claimed bragging rights at the World Cup, beating the eventual champions by 14 runs at Trent Bridge.

In a high-scoring affair, contributions by the top five carried Pakistan to 348/8 from their 50 overs, with Mohammad Hafeez top-scoring with a 62-ball 84. Despite the best efforts of Joe Root and Jos Buttler who both made centuries, expert death bowling from Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz sealed matters late.

THE CWC SUPER LEAGUE SITUATION

Neither of the Pakistan quicks make their way back to the UK, though six members of the XI in that victory return in the quest to automatically qualify for the 2023 Cricket World Cup. Winning four of their six matches in the Super League cycle thus far, Pakistan claimed two home wins against Zimbabwe before their trip to South Africa, only denied of a sweep when Zimbabwe held their nerve to win the third match via a super over.

England currently sit atop the standings, with 65 points - 15 more than second-placed Bangladesh. They picked up 25 points in their recent series against Sri Lanka, with rain in Bristol denying a perfect 30 points after they had bundled the tourists out for 166.

Pakistan will face England in three T20Is after the Super League matches, before travelling to the Caribbean for their tour of the West Indies.

England Squad: Ben Stokes (captain), Jake Ball, Danny Briggs, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Lewis Gregory, Tom Helm, Will Jacks, Dan Lawrence, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Matt Parkinson, David Payne, Phil Salt, John Simpson, James Vince.

Pakistan Squad: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan, Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Qadir

FIXTURES

8 July, 01:00pm local, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
10 July, 11:00am local, Lord's Cricket Ground, London
13 July, 01:00pm local, Edgbaston, Birmingham