The England men’s cricket team has landed in Pakistan for the first time in 17 years to take part in the first leg of their historic tour. The English team is scheduled to travel to Pakistan twice this year. They have landed in the Asian country for the seven-match T20I series in September-October and then will return in December for a three-match Test series.
It is the first time since 2005 that the English team has travelled to Pakistan for any form of bilateral series. In the first leg, the seven T20I matches will take place across two venues. The first four matches are scheduled in Karachi, and the last three will be played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
For the Karachi leg of T20I series, English team will miss the services of white-ball skipper Jos Buttler, who hasn’t recovered fully from the calf injury he suffered during The Hundred. In his absence, senior all-rounder Moeen Ali will lead the side. It will be a historic moment for Moeen to lead the side in Pakistan, a country from where his grandfather migrated to England long ago.
Moeen is excited about the prospect of playing in front of Pakistani fans as he has been waiting for this moment for a long time, and in his column for the Daily Mail he also revealed that it is a privilege for him to stand in as captain of the English team.
“It is going to be memorable playing in front of the Pakistani crowds and also an immense honour to deputise for Jos Buttler, while he recovers from injury, and captain England.”
“Indeed, it is the first time an England men’s side has come to Pakistan since 2005. I was 18 then. I’m 35 now and I must admit I have been looking forward to this trip for a long time,” he wrote.
Ali feels the upcoming T20 series against Pakistan will serve as a good preparation for the T20 World Cup.
“I have been here a few times now, but sharing this journey with Adil Rashid, who is also of Pakistani heritage, was a particularly proud moment.”
“Seven T20s will be a stern test in these conditions and a good pointer for where we are ahead of the World Cup in Australia next month,” he added.
This is Moeen’s second trip to Pakistan overall, as he has played nine games in the 2019-20 season of the Pakistan Super League for the Multan Sultans.
