Pakistan lost to England in the second T20I of the four-match series at Edgbaston. The Green Shirts are in the final stages of preparation matches for the upcoming T20I World Cup 2024. England will host Pakistan at home for a four-match T20I bilateral series.
Pakistan have had a mediocre record in Europe so far. Babar Azam’s side came from behind to win the three-match T20I series and beat Ireland 2-1. India’s arch rivals lost the inaugural T20I against a weak European team.
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After beating Ireland, Pakistan will now travel across the border to take on England, the defending T20I World Cup champions. The first T20I was called off due to rain and Pakistan lost the second T20I at Edgbaston on Saturday.
Captain Babar Azam won the toss and allowed the opposition to bat. Jos Buttler played a captain’s knock (84) as the home team posted a total of 183 on the scoreboard. Shaheen Shah Afridi took three wickets while Imad Wasim and Haris Rauf each picked up two wickets.
The visitors fought back but were restricted to 160 runs, 23 short. Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam scored 45 and 32 respectively but the Green shirts could not support each other in the run-run. The Pakistan captain blamed his batsmen’s inability to forge combinations for Pakistan’s 1-0 defeat at Edgbaston.
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What did Babar Azam say about Pakistan’s loss to England in the second T20I?
Head coach Babar Azam has blamed Pakistan’s batsmen for their recent loss against England at Edgbaston. He praised the efforts of the bowlers in restricting the opposition to a par score, but criticised the batsmen for failing to form co-ordinates while chasing runs.
It was a par score. Our bowlers bowled really well. We needed more coordination to chase this down, said Babar Azam after the disappointing defeat to England in the second T20I.
“It was a par score. Our bowlers bowled really well. We needed more coordination to chase this down,” Babar Azam said.#TapMad #Hojao AD Free #ENGvPAK #PAKvsENG pic.twitter.com/yztO9gmKLC
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) May 25, 2024
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What’s next for Pakistan?
With two T20Is remaining in the four-match series, Pakistan have a lot of work to do before flying out to the United States for the World Cup. Having lost the first two matches 1-0, Babar Azam and his team must win the remaining two matches to have any chance of winning the bilateral series. One more win for England will see them clinch the series.
Pakistan will take on England in the third T20I on 28 May 2024. The encounter will be played at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff and the match will kick off at 11pm Indian Standard Time.
