Who will play in first England T20I Saim or Usman?

The Pakistan team management has to make a tough call to go with either Saim Ayub or Usman Khan for the first T20I against England.

This will be the last experimental game as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would announce the squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.

Captain Babar Azam confirmed in the presser that he would bat at one down position which means, Mohammad Rizwan will open with Sami or Usman in the game.

Though, the left-hander had an intensive one-and-a-half-hour training session with white-ball coach Gary Kirsten. It remains to be seen whether Pakistan will provide Saim with another opportunity or opt to test Usman Khan further before finalizing their T20 World Cup squad.

Meanwhile, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed and hitter Azam Khan – who will also be keeping wickets – are set to feature in the middle order.

All-rounder Imad Wasim will follow them lower in the order.

For pace attack, the trio, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Amir and Naseem Shah, are set to feature in the game.

For the remaining final sport Abbas Afridi is favorite to fill in. Still there is no update on Haris Rauf’s fitness.

Pakistan’s likely XI:

Saim Ayub/Usman Khan, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir