Jofra Archer has been included in England’s lineup for the T20I against Pakistan, marking his return to professional cricket after a 385-day absence due to an elbow injury. This match also marks his first home international appearance since September 2020.
Originally slated to play in the first T20I, Archer had to wait an additional three days due to rain in Leeds, which washed out the match. He has been preparing by playing for his club side in Barbados and Sussex’s 2nd XI, but these upcoming games against Pakistan will serve as the main test of his fitness ahead of the T20 World Cup.
In an interview with Sky Sports before the match, Archer described his rehabilitation process as feeling “like a hamster on the wheel,” emphasizing the perseverance required in his recovery.
However, he expressed his excitement about returning to the team environment, highlighting the refreshing experience of being back with the squad.
Approaching his comeback on a “game-by-game” basis, Archer acknowledged the need for an extra level of intensity, especially in significant matches. He expressed his satisfaction with bowling his four overs in the game, aiming to secure his place on the plane for future fixtures.
Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, won the toss and elected to bowl first. The team made a few changes, recalling Shadab Khan and welcoming back Haris Rauf after his recovery from a shoulder injury.
Gary Kirsten’s first match as Pakistan’s white-ball coach garnered positive remarks from Babar Azam, who praised Kirsten’s positive coaching style and strategic planning.
Meanwhile, England opted to exclude Sam Curran, preferring Chris Jordan and Liam Livingstone, who has overcome a knee injury.
The confirmed lineups are as follows:
England: 1 Jos Buttler (capt/wk), 2 Phil Salt, 3 Will Jacks, 4 Jonny Bairstow, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Moeen Ali, 7 Liam Livingstone, 8 Chris Jordan, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Reece Topley.
Pakistan: 1 Babar Azam (capt), 2 Saim Ayub, 3 Mohammad Rizwan, 4 Fakhar Zaman, 5 Shadab Khan, 6 Azam Khan (wk), 7 Iftikhar Ahmed, 8 Imad Wasim, 9 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Mohammad Amir.
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