England's Tour to Pakistan Archives

‘Excited to challenge myself in Pakistan,’ says Jack Leach

LONDON: Left-arm spinner Jack Leach shared his excitement for England’s historic Test tour to Pakistan, scheduled in December this year.

Leach, who was included in England’s Test squad for the Pakistan tour, announced last week, and termed the series ‘important’ not only for the two nations but also for world cricket, while he is also looking forward to having the opportunity to challenge himself.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to challenge myself out in Pakistan,” he said. “Two strong teams will be competing, so it should be a good series. To be playing back in Pakistan is really exciting, so I’m really looking forward to it.

“It’s an important series for England and Pakistan, but I also think that it’s important for world cricket. In Pakistan, you can feel how passionate the people are about the game, and to have international cricket back in the country is very important. It’s great that we’re able to get out there and play again.”

The Somerset-based spinner further opined regarding England’s unique approach in Test cricket and also expressed his desire that the side takes the approach abroad as well.

“The summer was great fun, and we got some good results,” he explained. “The way that we’re trying to go about things is exciting and it’s bringing out the best in us as a team.

“We’re looking forward to taking that abroad and to playing in the same positive way because we want to be giving the fans something exciting to watch.”

Leach then went on to comment regarding the playing conditions and pitches in Pakistan and asserted that he is trying not to presume things and also to prepare the same way, he does for any series.

“I’ve been told that the wickets are very good out there, so I think we’ll get a mixture. It can start to spin but it can be flat as well. I think you can expect to bowl quite a few overs there as a spinner, but they’ve got a great seam attack so I wouldn’t want to presume anything.

“The key will be to prepare in the same way that I would for any series and be ready for any situation.”

It is pertinent to mention that England will tour Pakistan for a three-match Test series, scheduled from December 1 to 21. Rawalpindi, Multan and Karachi will host the three matches respectively.

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England coach Dawson withdraws from Pakistan tour due to injury

KARACHI: The assistant coach of England’s men’s national cricket team Richard Dawson withdrew from the historic Pakistan tour after suffering an injury, sources claimed.

According to the details, Dawson sustained a groin injury during England’s training session on Saturday evening.

Following the assessment of his injury, the medical board advised Dawson to withdraw from his team’s ongoing tour to Pakistan and as a result, will fly to the United Kingdom (UK) on Wednesday.

The injury has also ruled Dawson out of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2022, scheduled later in October in Australia and his replacement will be announced in a due course.

It is pertinent to mention here that England will lock horns with Pakistan in the first T20I of the seven-match series today at National Stadium Karachi.

The action-filled T20I series will be streamed on the digital platform of ARY Digital Network – ARY ZAP in crystal clear HD quality.

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Tickets for Pakistan-England fourth T20I sold out

KARACHI: The fourth fixture of the seven-match T20I series between Pakistan and England drew massive attention from cricket fans as all the tickets for the Sunday clash have been sold out.

According to the details, the fourth match of the Pakistan-England T20I series, scheduled for September 25 at the National Stadium, is guaranteed to be a sellout as cricket fans will flock in droves to see England in action in the country after an almost 17-year absence.

All enclosure tickets are sold out due to the holiday, while the tickets ranging from 250 to 1500 PKR have become rare.

The VIP tickets for all four T20Is, scheduled here, have been sold out, while only a few enclosure tickets are available for sale for the first match on Tuesday, September 20.

Furthermore, Quaid-e-Azam, Imran Khan, and Majid Khan enclosures’ tickets worth PKR 750 have also been sold out for all four T20Is.

It is apropos to mention here that England set foot in Pakistan after a gap of almost 17 years to face the home side in a seven-match T20I series, scheduled from September 20 to October 2.

National Stadium Karachi will host the first four matches of the series, while the remaining three fixtures will be held at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.

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England’s players set to depart for Pakistan tour

LONDON: England’s Pakistan Tour-bound players are all set to leave for the country to play seven-match series which will roll into action on September 20 at the National Stadium, Karachi.

With their arrival in Pakistan on Thursday morning, the visit will be England’s first to the country in 17 years. Jos Buttler, the captain of England’s white-ball team, will address the media at a local hotel in the late afternoon.

Ahead of their departure to Pakistan for the much-anticipated T20I series, England’s veteran batter Alex Hales and left-arm pacer David Willey shared pictures of their preparations for the tour and raised the excitement among cricket fans.

“We go again then,” wrote Hales as he shared the pictures of his luggage on his official Instagram handle.

Willey, on the other hand, marked check on and packed all of his essentials for the historic tour to Pakistan.

For England’s historic tour to Pakistan, law enforcement agencies have ensured foolproof security arrangements on the team’s travel routes from the airport to the hotel and the stadium.

Meanwhile, bullet-proof buses reached National Stadium Karachi on Wednesday which will be used to move England’s squad during their stay in the city.

It is pertinent to mention here that England will take on Pakistan in seven T20Is from September 20 to October 2. National Stadium, Karachi will host the first four matches of the series, while the remaining matches will be played at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

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