The third T20I between England and Pakistan is set to take place on Tuesday at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. England currently leads the four-match series 1-0 after their victory in the second T20I, with the first match in Leeds being washed out due to rain.
In preparation for the upcoming match, Gary Kirsten was seen assisting Saim Ayub during Monday’s practice session. Saim Ayub, a left-handed opener, spent a considerable amount of time in the nets. However, there is speculation that Pakistan may opt to drop Saim Ayub for the next game. If this happens, Usman Khan is expected to take his place and open the innings alongside Mohammad Rizwan, with captain Babar Azam slated to bat at number three.
The middle order will feature powerful hitters like Fakhar Zaman, wicketkeeper Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, and all-rounder Imad Wasim. This lineup provides a solid foundation for Pakistan to score runs and accelerate the innings when required.
Pakistan is likely to deploy a four-man pace attack, led by Shaheen Afridi and supported by Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Amir. Shadab Khan, who had a tough outing in the first T20I by conceding 55 runs in his four overs without taking a wicket, may be replaced. Naseem Shah is a potential replacement for Shadab, particularly given the cloudy weather conditions expected. However, if the weather improves, Abrar Ahmed might step in instead of Shadab.
Here is Pakistan’s likely XI for the third T20I:
- Saim Ayub/Usman Khan
- Mohammad Rizwan
- Babar Azam (C)
- Fakhar Zaman
- Azam Khan (wk)
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Imad Wasim
- Shaheen Afridi
- Naseem Shah/Abrar Ahmed
- Haris Rauf
- Mohammad Amir
As the teams prepare for the third T20I, fans will be keen to see how these potential changes impact Pakistan’s performance and whether they can level the series against England.
