POWER PLAY

England VS Pakistan

ENGLAND WILL

fancy their chances of extending search for an elusive major global ODI silverware when they take on Pakistan in the first semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy today

THREE-TIME

World Cup finalists England have been trying for the past 42 years to lay claim to a trophy in a major 50 -over tournament IN EOIN MORGAN’S

well-balanced unit, the world sees a chance for England to realise their dream

NOTWITHSTANDING PAKISTAN’S

remarkable turnaround after an embarrassing loss to India in their tournament opener in Birmingham, hosts England will take field at Sophia Gardens with their nose ahead

ENGLAND HAVE

come a long way in a short space of time since a humiliating first-round exit at the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

IN BEN STOKES,

they have one of the world’s best all- rounder, who can inflict damage on the opposition with both bat and ball.

JOE ROOT

is a world-class batsman and is the fulcrum around whom England batting revolves

MORGAN AND JOS BUTTLER

complete the middle order, while openers Alex Hales and Jason Roy have ability to be devastating

EVEN AS SARFRAZ AHMED’S

unpredictable Pakistan stand between them and a second straight Champions Trophy final appearance, England will fancy their chances

PAKISTAN WILL

be boosted by Sarfraz’s match-winning knock in the team’s three-wicket win over Sri Lanka, which put them into the semis

THE GREEN

shirts are also excited about the explosive entry of opener Fakhar Zaman, who slammed 50 off 36 balls against the Sri Lankans

WHILE THE

middle order batting remains a concern, Sarfraz said Pakistan will address it so that the likes of Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik click when the situation demands

PAKISTAN HAVE

a potent pace bowling attack in Mohammad Amir, Junaid Khan and Hasan Ali with Faheem Ali adding more power to the triumvirate

ENGLAND ARE

aware that the Pakistani pacers are adept at exploiting helpful seaming conditions