Cricket Prediction | England vs Pakistan | 1st T20I | May 22– Let’s see who will win this exciting game before the T20I World Cup.

ENG vs PAK Match Analysis

In this article, we will analyze the Cricket Prediction for England vs Pakistan of the 1st T20I on May 22. Let’s see who will win this exciting game before the T20I World Cup. The first Twenty20 International of the four-match series will occur Wednesday at Leeds’ Headingley Cricket Ground between host England and Pakistan.

The T20 World Champions are eager to get off to a strong start in their home season. In this first game, captain Jos Buttler will be aiming for a clinical showing from the team. On the other side, Pakistan has said they will be playing England at full strength. Babar Azam, the team’s captain, will be hopeful that they can play England quite well.

The two sides have faced off 29 times in the shorter format, with England winning more (18 wins) than Pakistan (9 wins), however, one match has resulted in a draw. There was no outcome in one of the matches.

ENG vs PAK Team Preview & Squads

England

With a rating of 252, England is presently ranked third in the ICC Men’s T20 Team Rankings. The last T20I series England played was in December 2023. They fell short in that five-game series, 3-2. For the past year or two, England hasn’t looked their best. In the four-match series, England will undoubtedly be the early favorites, but they will need to play at their best if they hope to defeat a formidable Pakistani team.

In terms of batting, Jonny Bairstow, Captain Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, Harry Brook, Will Jacks, Moeen Ali, and all-rounders Jonny Bairstow will be expected to carry most of the load in this first match.

Phil Salt has been leading England’s T20 Format batting charts since February 2023. Salt has amassed 394 runs at a strike average of 169.09 in eight games. In this time, he has amassed two centuries.

In terms of bowling, the focus will be on players like Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid, as well as the speed trio of Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, and Reece Topley, to take early wickets and put pressure on the opposition’s batting.

Leg-spinner Adil Rashid has led England’s bowling rankings in the T20 Format since February 2023. Rashid has claimed 14 wickets at an economy rate of 7.11 in 12 games. 

England Squads

England Squads

Jos Buttler (c), Phil Salt (wk), Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, and Reece Topley.

Pakistan

With a rating of 246, Pakistan is presently ranked seventh in the ICC Men’s T20 Team Rankings. Pakistan’s Twenty20 cricket team is doing well. They just defeated Ireland 2-1 in a three-match series. They lost the opening encounter of the series, but they recovered brilliantly and crushed the hosts in the next two Twenty20 international matches. Pakistan has the potential to surprise the hosts despite starting as the underdogs against England.

The visitors will be hoping to adapt to the weather and provide a solid performance in this series opener after winning the T20I series against Ireland. To score most of the runs in this match, the Green Shirts will be depending on openers Saim Ayub, captain Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, wicketkeeper Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, and all-rounder Shadab Khan.

Babar Azam has been leading Pakistan’s T20 batting records since January 1st, 2024. Babar has amassed 470 runs at an average of 39.16 in 13 games, including six half-centuries.

The pace trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Abbas Afridi, as well as the spin duo of Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan, will be expected to make timely breakthroughs in the bowling department. Pakistani pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has been the top bowler in the T20 Format since January 1, 2024. Shaheen has taken 24 wickets at an economy rate of 8.11 in the 12 games he has participated in.

Pakistan Squads

Pakistan Squads

Babar Azam (c), Azam Khan (wk), Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Afridi.

ENG vs PAK outfield report

Headingley, Leeds

Both teams want to win the toss, put the ball in play first, and score more than 190 runs. Leeds’s lone Twenty20 match was won by the team that batted first.

There is a strong chance of unfavorable weather that could postpone or cancel the match, according to weather projections. The most recent weather forecast indicates that there is a 75% chance of rain on game day. These circumstances could significantly affect the playing surface and pitch, providing both teams with a significant task.

The bowlers could find something on the wicket that was set up for the match. To score runs on this pitch, the batters must remain at the crease.

ENG vs PAK Head-to-Head Stats of Last 5 Matches

England has won three of the last five meetings between these two teams, while Pakistan has won two.

England vs Pakistan Prediction

Winning the toss

• England

Player of the Match

• England – Jonny Bairstow

Most runs

• England – Jonny Bairstow
• Pakistan – Fakhar Zaman

Most wickets

• England – Jofra Archer
• Pakistan – Shaheen Afridi

Most sixes

• England – Jonny Bairstow
• Pakistan – Fakhar Zaman

Team Scores Batting First

• England – 190+
• Pakistan – 180+

According to cricket analysts, England has a 61.4% chance of winning.

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