Pakistan’s likely playing XI for first England T20I, Azam Khan to make debut

Pakistan are likely to hand young wicketkeeper-batsman Azam Khan his debut cap in the first Twenty20 International (T20I) against England on Friday at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.

Azam, who impressed one and all with his power-hitting in the past couple of seasons of the HBL Pakistan Super League, is likely to be Pakistan’s solution to their middle-order woes. He has a strike-rate of 153.37 in 40 T20 innings but there is still a question mark over his fitness. It must be noted that Azam is the son of former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Moin Khan.  

Middle-order batsman Sohaib Maqsood, who was the player of the tournament in the sixth season of the HBL PSL, is also likely to be slotted in the playing XI.

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Experienced campaigner Mohammad Hafeez will return to the side, while all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz is likely to replace Shadab Khan, who has been out of form in limited-overs cricket during the recent past, in the lineup.

The Men in Green are still searching for their first win on the tour, after an embarrassing three-nil One-day International (ODI) series whitewash against a second string England side.

Pakistan XI

Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Sohaib Maqsood, Azam Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali