Two key England players set to miss few T20Is against Pakistan

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Liam Livingstone and Mark Wood are still recovering from injuries and are expected to miss few games of the four-match series between England and Pakistan.

The first T20I between the two teams was washed out due to rain on in Leeds on Wednesday.

Ahead of the game on Tuesday, England Buttler had confirmed that Livingstone and Wood were not available for the first game.

“Liam Livingstone’s not fit for tomorrow. He’s getting his knee right. Mark Wood’s not fit either,” Buttler said.

Mark Wood, who last played in England’s final Test against India in Dharamshala two months ago, is dealing with a niggle in his left knee. He was observed running during training on Tuesday, suggesting progress in his recovery. Meanwhile, Livingstone sustained a right knee injury during the Indian Premier League last month. England's management is carefully monitoring his condition throughout the series to ensure he is fully fit for the World Cup.

Additionally, Buttler mentioned he will attend the imminent birth of his third child, emphasizing that family takes precedence.

“My family comes first. I’ll be there. I don’t think they [babies] quite tell you sometimes when they’re going to come, but I’ve got a plan in place,” he said.

Should this occur during the World Cup, Buttler plans to leave the team to be with his family, potentially missing some games, particularly if travel from the Caribbean is required.

In Buttler's absence, his deputy Moeen Ali will assume the captaincy. Buttler also confirmed he will be keeping wicket, and if he is unavailable, it is likely that Phil Salt will take over wicketkeeping duties, with Jonny Bairstow as another option.

Attention now shifts to the second T20I, slated to take place in Birmingham on May 25th at 6:30 PM (PST).

 

Squads:

England: 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: 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 in Pakistan vs England men’s T20I series:

May 25: Second T20I at Birmingham

May 28: Third T20I at Cardiff

May 30: Fourth T20I at The Oval