MOEEN: CAPTAINCY MEANS MORE HERE
Pakistan roots make being England skipper
ALL-ROUNDER Moeen Ali says captaining England against Pakistan – where his family have roots – is a “huge and proud moment” for him.
England are on their first tour of Pakistan in 17 years, and will play seven Twenty20s internationals against the hosts.
The first four T20Is of the series will be played in Karachi, with Lahore hosting the remaining three. The series will conclude next Sunday (2).
England captain Jos Buttler has travelled with the squad but is nursing a calf injury, with Ali the stand-in skipper. The Birmingham-born player has captained England in T20s before, but said leading the side on this tour was special.
“Obviously with my roots being from here and to lead England in such a big series, a historic series, is a huge and proud moment,” Ali said.
“My mum and dad, my friends and my family and community and everybody who I feel I represent is happy for me,” he added.
“Leading and playing for England anywhere and in any game is a huge honour.”
Ali’s grandfather was from Mirpur in Pakistanadministered Kashmir, and he spent some years of his childhood there.
Meanwhile, there are fears Buttler will miss the Pakistan series entirely, after suffering an injury during The Hundred tournament last month.
“I am not sure (when Buttler will play). He is a bit more careful and maybe at the back end of the tour, he will play one or two games but it will depend on his progress,” Ali said.
“We want him fully fit for the World Cup so we will not risk anything.”
England are also without all-rounders Liam Livingstone and Chris Jordan as they recover from ankle and finger injuries respectively.
Test captain Ben Stokes has been rested ahead of the T20 World Cup, which begins in Australia next month.
Ali said despite the absences, England’s young side should be not underestimated, describing it as “a very good white-ball side”.
The long-awaited return of England comes five months after a trouble-free tour by Australia, their first in 24 years, which helped Pakistan’s rehabilitation as a safe place to play cricket.
International cricket has gradually returned to the south Asian country following years where they were forced to play home matches in neutral venues after a deadly attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in 2009.
England had been originally scheduled to arrive in October last year but cancelled at short notice, immediately after New Zealand pulled out of a tour citing safety concerns.
The withdrawal by England infuriated the Pakistan Cricket Board, who called it “disrespectful” as they made strides to show the country was a secure destination.
England, the current 50-over world champions, are also scheduled to play a Test series in Pakistan in December, followed by the return of New Zealand to the country.
The tourists are looking to bounce back from recent Twenty20 series defeats to the West Indies (3-2), and South Africa and India (both 2-1).
Pakistan are aiming to recover after losing the T20 Asia Cup final to Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates earlier this month.
“It’s an important series for the build-up towards that World Cup,” said Buttler, who felt it was vital to travel with his side despite only having a chance of being fit for the final two matches.
“Obviously the main aim for everyone is to turn up fully ready for that World Cup,” said Buttler. “Pakistan are a very strong team and will give us a really tough challenge.”
Meanwhile, the return of explosive opener Alex Hales from three years in the wilderness after testing positive for a recreational drug will bolster England’s batting, according to Pakistan’s top order batsman Shan Masood.
“I think England are one of the best white-ball teams,” said Masood, who will make his Twenty20 debut for Pakistan as a reward for scoring heavily for Derbyshire in the English T20 Blitz.
“England will pose a very good challenge for us and it’s probably the ideal preparation to play one of the best sides before the World Cup.”