Eoin Morgan Returns As England Name 16-Member Squad For Pakistan T20Is

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has named a full-strength squad under the captaincy of Eoin Morgan for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Pakistan after 16 players tested COVID-19 negative after being forced into isolation after the Sri Lanka series.

Seven members, three players, and four support staff, of the England contingent which played Sri Lanka before the Pakistan ODIs, tested positive for COVID-19 and the entire squad was asked to isolate. This forced ECB to conjure up a totally new side, recalling Ben Stokes earlier than expected to captain the England team in the ODI series.

The new-look England team led by Ben Stokes started off well, by bowling Pakistan out for 141 runs and winning the first ODI by 9 wickets. The second ODI saw an amazing bowling performance from England, as they defended 248 runs pretty easily and won the match by 52 runs.

However, the most amazing performance came in the third ODI, as Pakistan put up 331/9 in 50 overs, with Babar Azam making 158 and Imam-Ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan making half-centuries. But England came back strongly with James Vince making 102 and Lewis Gregory scoring a match-winning half-century as the hosts clean-swept Pakistan 3-0.

All Of The 16-Player Squad And Support Staff Have Returned Negative Covid-19 Tests: ECB

The new-look England team demolished the full-strength Pakistan team captained by Babar Azam in all three ODI matches to win the series 3-0. It was expected that ECB will name a strong squad for the T20I series which followed the ODI series and it has been done. ECB confirmed that all players and support staff members who were isolating tested Covid-negative.

“Morgan is one of nine players who have been included in the squad after completing the required period of self-isolation following the series against Sri Lanka. All of the 16-player squad and support staff have returned negative Covid-19 tests to clear them for the series,” ECB said in a release.

Chris Silverwood will be taking a break after been asked to take over for the ODI series and Paul Collingwood will be overseeing the team as head coach. The three-match series begins at Trent Bridge on Friday 16 July.

England’s T20I squad:

Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Tom Banton, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Lewis Gregory, Chris Jordan, Liam, Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Matt Parkinson, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, David Willey

Also Read: Babar Azam Needs To Step-Up And Change The Team Environment: Ramiz Raja