Heavy rain suddenly ended Wednesday’s highly anticipated first T20I between England and Pakistan in Leeds. The persistent downpour rendered the Headingley pitch unplayable, resulting in a complete washout without a single ball being bowled.
The match between Pakistan and England was scheduled to start at 10:30 PM local Pakistani time, but continuous rainfall prevented play. As a result, the series remains tied at 0-0, with both teams now shifting their focus to the second T20I at Edgbaston.
This series is particularly significant as it serves as both teams’ final preparations before the T20 World Cup 2024, which kicks off on June 1. Pakistan will play its group matches in the United States, while England will play its fixtures in the West Indies.
In their recent outings, Pakistan hosted an inexperienced New Zealand side, resulting in a 2-2 draw, with one match abandoned due to rain. They also secured a 2-1 victory against Ireland in Dublin, marking Babar Azam’s initial challenges since being reinstated as the white-ball captain. Despite the series win against Ireland, several issues were evident that the team needs to address before the World Cup.
England Squads in first T20i against Pakistan
Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonathan Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, Mark Wood.
Pakistan Squads in the first T20i against England:
Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Khan.
Remaining Matches
Second T20I, May 25 at Birmingham
Third T20I, May 28 at Cardiff
Fourth T20I, May 30 at The Oval
