England vs Pakistan: vice-captain Shadab Khan vows to bounce back strongly in T20 series against England
Pakistan will be looking to make a fresh start on the tour of England when they face the hosts in the first of three T20I matches on Friday at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.
Pakistan vice-captain Shadab Khan expressed the team’s desire of making a strong comeback after losing the ODI series 3-0.
“T20 is a different format and we have a different team. Our senior players like Hafeez and Imad Wasim have returned to the side,” Shadab told reporters during the virtual media press meet.
“Mostly players in the team have recently featured in the PSL. So we have played a good amount of T20 cricket and hopefully you will see a good series.”
When asked about his individual performance, Shadab said, “I am making a comeback after injury. My recent performance was not good, but I feel I am in good rhythm lately and looking forward to contributing for the team in batting and bowling departments.”
Pakistan was thrashed fair and square in the ODI series by Ben Stokes-led second string side. The home side’s first-choice lineup had to isolate after a Covid-19 outbreak but a group of inexperienced reserves played fearless cricket under Ben Stokes’ captaincy against a team led by No. 1 ranked ODI batsman Babar Azam.
Pakistan’s head coach has lambasted his team’s poor display in its 3-0 defeat to England’s second-string team in the ODI series and called it ‘indefensible.’
TV commentator and former captain Ramiz Raja has demanded action.
“For the sake of Pakistan cricket, there’s a need for massive changes,” Raja said on his YouTube channel. “It’s a massive wakeup call for Pakistan cricket and for the system of Pakistan cricket.”
Raja wants more youngsters to be given central contracts. “There should be at least 10,” he said.
Out of the 18 T20Is played between the two sides, Pakistan have won five games, England have won 12 matches while one match was abandoned due to rain.
