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Pakistan's captain Babar Azam took a brave stance when he was asked about Jofra Archer threat in the T20I series against England. In a show of confidence, Azam stated his team is looking forward to the challenge, not fearing the England fast bowler. This upcoming series holds high anticipation as Archer gears up for his first international appearance on English soil in nearly four years. England's captain, Jos Buttler, confirmed the much-awaited comeback, with Archer taking the field for the first T20I against Pakistan in Leeds on Wednesday.
Archer's journey back hasn't been easy. Persistent back and elbow injuries sidelined him significantly, restricting him to just seven matches for England in the last three years. However, his determination to return to competitive cricket is evident, and fans are eager to see him back in action.
Pakistan ready to tackle ‘Archer’ threat
Babar Azam isn't shying away from the challenge of facing a returning Jofra Archer. Azam expressed his team's eagerness for the matchup, highlighting their preparation for the England fast bowler's pace. Archer's inclusion in the England squad, not only for the T20I series but also the upcoming T20 World Cup, has generated significant buzz. He impressed with his bowling speed during net sessions, including one with England's captain, Jos Buttler. However, England's management opted for a lighter training session for Archer on Tuesday, prioritizing his fitness for the series opener against Pakistan on Wednesday.
While Archer's reputation as a fearsome bowler precedes him, Babar assures that Pakistan is ready. He emphasizes their familiarity with facing high-speed bowling through regular practice sessions and their own talented pace attack featuring Haris Rauf, Mohammad Amir, and Shaheen Afridi. This sets the stage for an exciting T20I series opener with both teams confident in their abilities.
Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam, is turning the upcoming T20I series against England into a positive opportunity. He downplays any fear surrounding Jofra Archer's return, instead framing it as a valuable pre-T20 World Cup test.
Babar emphasizes his team's enthusiasm to face Archer. This series provides a chance to gauge their skills against a world-class fast bowler before the T20 World Cup kicks off in the USA and Caribbean on June 1st.
“As a team, we are very excited to play Archer. We have that pace of bowlers: Haris Rauf, Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Afridi. We are facing it every day. We are not feeling fear; we are excited,” Babar was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
England's squad for T20I series against Pakistan
Jos Buttler (wk/c), Philip Salt, Will Jacks, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley, Mark Wood, Ben Duckett, Liam Livingstone, Tom Hartley
Pakistan's squad for T20I series against England
Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam(c), Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Amir, Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Abrar Ahmed, Abbas Afridi, Irfan Khan, Usman Khan, Agha Salman
The Schedule
First T20I - May 22 at Headingley, Leeds
Second T20I - May 25 at Edgbaston, Birmingham
Third T20I - May 28 at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Fourth T20I - May 30 at Kennington Oval, London
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