Batsmen other than Babar, Rizwan to open innings for Pakistan

• Pakistan may replace Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan as the opening duo in the home series against England. 
• A cricket analyst revealed that Pakistan will try some other batsmen to open for the country in the current T20 series. 
• He said Shan Masood, Haider Ali and Mohammad Haris may be picked for the purpose. 

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KARACHI: Skipper Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are probably not going to open the innings in the upcoming Twenty20 International series against England, a cricket analyst has predicted.

Revealing his sources during a Twitter space chat with Geo Super, sports journalist and broadcaster Haider Azhar revealed that Babar and Rizwan will not be opening at the crease.

“As far as I have talked to some people, Babar and Rizwan will not open Pakistan’s innings against England,” the cricket commentator said.

“Pakistan will probably try a new opening pair in this series while moving ahead to the T20 World Cup.”

Pakistan has included Shan Masood, Haider Ali and Mohammad Haris in the Twenty20 squad. They may be given the responsibility of opening for Pakistan.

On September 17, Pakistan and England teams practised together at the National Stadium Karachi.

After 17 years, England visited Pakistan to play a seven-match Twenty20 International series. The series will take place from September 20 to October 2 in Karachi and Lahore. The first four games will take place in Karachi, while the final three are scheduled for Lahore.

Pakistan will also play a warm-up match against England on October 17 before they start their run at the Twenty20 World Cup, starting on October 16.

Squad:

Pakistan Squad: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Junior, Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shan Masood, Usman Qadir.

England Squad: Jos Buttler (captain/wicketkeeper), Moeen Ali (vice captain), Harry Brook, Jordan Cox (wicketkeeper), Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Richard Gleeson, Alex Hales, Tom Helm, Will Jacks, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Olly Stone, Reece Topley, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Luke Wood.

Schedule:

Sept 20 – first T20I – National Stadium, Karachi (7:30pm)

Sept 22 – second T20I – National Stadium, Karachi (7:30pm)

Sept 23 – third T20I – National Stadium, Karachi (7:30pm)

Sept 25 – fourth T20I – National Stadium, Karachi (7:30pm)

Sept 28 – fifth T20I – Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (7:30pm)

Sept 30 – sixth T20I – Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (7:30pm)

Oct 2 – seventh T20I – Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (7:30pm)