Eyeing improvement in records, Pakistan will take on a brand-new England team in the first One-Day Internationals (ODI) of the three-match series starting today at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff at 5 pm PST.
The host England faced a blow when its three players tested positive along with other four members of the management.
Following this, the English side had to turn all over under the captaincy of Ben Stokes and a new 18-member squad was announced after it. There are some nine uncapped call-ups in the current squad.
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A fresh English side will provide an opportunity for the visitors to improve their ODI record against the world champions.
If Pakistan registers a whitewash against the novice English side, they can claim the bragging rights by securing the apex position in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League.
The hosts are in the 1st position with 65 points from 12 ODI matches while Pakistan is on 3rd with 50 points in 6 games. The winning team will get 10 points for each triumph.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam says they are familiar with the faces in the amended English side and homework against them has been done.
Pakistani pacer Hasan Ali has an impressive record at Sophia Gardens as he has 10 wickets to his name in only 3 ODIs played there.
But, the injuries have hit the men in green as middle-order batsman Haris Sohail has been ruled out of the ODI series.
England ranks 3rd in the ICC ODI Rankings while the green shirts are on the 6th spot.
However, a balanced Pakistani side will be a tough challenge for the inexperienced English side.
The world champions have never lost a series against the green shirts since 2006.
Overall, the English side has won 9 of 11 ODI series while Pakistan could only win one.
However, the last game both rivals played each other was in World Cup 2019 when Pakistan defeated England by 14 runs.
England is on top in the 50-over format against the men in green as they have won 53 of 88 encounters between both cricketing nations.
Pakistan has won 32 games so far while 3 ODIs didn’t produce a result.
Both sides have faced off each other in 48 games on English soil. Here, the host leads with 36 matches while the green shirts registered wins in 16 games.
The English side also has a 4-1 lead in the last five 50-over games between the two.