Moeen Ali Will Lead England's T20 Team During Their First Tour To Pakistan In 17 Years
Published - 31 Aug 2022, 02:19 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:12 AM
Moeen Ali is preparing to lead the England national team on their first trip to Pakistan in 17 years for a seven-match T20I series, decades after his grandfather managed to flee Mirpur in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir for the United Kingdom.
The 35-year-old, who has served as full-time skipper Jos Buttler’s chief deputy since Eoin Morgan’s retirement, has reportedly been named as the leading candidate to lead the team on tour with Buttler out injured and Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow likely to be rested, as per reports from The Guardian.
After being forced to withdraw from the remainder of the Hundred last week owing to a calf problem, Buttler stated he is eyeing the “back end” of the seven-match Twenty20 international series in Pakistan to be ready for the T20 World Cup in Australia in October.
Before to the opening game in Karachi on September 20, the tour party is scheduled to depart for Pakistan on September 14 – two days after the anticipated final day of the third Test against South Africa at the Oval. The favorite to step in for him is reportedly Moeen.
I suppose I am officially unretired: Moeen Ali
The series in Pakistan will be the first for the England men’s team since 2005, as previous meetings between the two were held in the United Arab Emirates by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Moeen’s conversation with head coach Brendon McCullum early this summer regarding the Pakistan Test visit in December prompted him to reconsider his decision to retire from Test cricket last year.
“I spoke to McCullum this morning, and we did discuss Pakistan this winter. The door is always open, and yeah, I suppose I am officially unretired,” he had said.
The seven-match T20I series is scheduled to begin on September 20 in Karachi, with the series’ final game taking place in Lahore on October 2. After more than 17 years, England will be making their first visit to the nation.
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