PAK vs ENG Head to Head, Playing XI, Preview, Where to Watch on TV, Online, and Live Streaming Details

Hosts Pakistan would be hoping to take a series lead when they face England on a fresh Lahore wicket in the all-important fifth T20I on Wednesday, September 28.

Updated - 27 Sept 2022, 15:31 IST

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After a blockbuster Karachi leg of the ongoing seven-match T20I series between hosts Pakistan and England, the action now moves to Lahore where both teams will lock horns in the fifth T20I at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday, September 28. The last three matches saw both teams give their absolute best and the series is currently levelled at 2-2.

The hosts will be heading into the encounter oozing with confidence after a hard-fought three-run win in the fourth T20I. Pakistan will bank on their bowlers to yet again get the job done for them in order to take a series lead. However, with hardly any time left for the T20 World Cup, the Men in Green need to desperately work on their fragile middle-order as it is being exposed constantly since the Asia Cup 2022.

On the other hand, England have also blown hot and cold throughout the series and while the bowlers barring the second game have been impressive, the batters especially the ones in the top-order need to rework on their strategies as the Three Lions look to register their maiden T20I series victory on Pakistan soil.

From England's perspective, it has been learned that their regular white-ball skipper Jos Buttler is likely to miss the remainder of the ongoing bilateral series as he continues to nurse his calf injury that he had sustained during The Hundred 2022. It means that star all-rounder Moeen Ali will continue to lead the English side.

With less than four weeks left in England's T20 World Cup 2022 curtain-raiser against arch-rivals Australia, the English team management will refrain from risking Buttler, who is one of their key players as they want him 100% fit ahead of the showpiece event down under.

Pitch Conditions

While batting has been more or less a concern for both teams, they would now be looking to get out of their comfort zones and try making a statement in the remainder of the series. The wicket at Lahore will be a fresh one which is expected to showcase a high-scoring contest. Batting will also be easy in the second innings, Therefore, the captain winning the toss would prefer bowling first.

Playing Combinations for PAK vs ENG

Pakistan

Pakistan are likely to not make any changes to their playing XI for this contest. They would be hoping that pace sensation Haris Rauf once again comes good like he did in the previous match that helped Pakistan snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Predicted Playing XI:

Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Asif Ali, Usman Qadir, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Wasim Jr.

England

England will be banking on their comeback man Alex Hales and his opening partner Phillip Salt to provide a brisk start to them. Hales had a good Pakistan Super League campaign earlier this year and he would be expected to make his bat do the talking exceptionally well.

Predicted Playing XI:

Alex Hales, Philip Salt (wk), Will Jacks, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali (c), David Willey, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Olly Stone, Reece Topley