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

The first match of the series will be played on Friday

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

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