Pakistani Pacer, Umar Gul is drafted back into the Pakistan limited overs side which will be touring Ireland and England after the completion of the on-going test series where the English Team is having the upper hand as they went on to beat the Pakistani team twice in three tests. The Final test will commence on 11th of August and the Pakistani team should rise up to the occasion if they want draw the series.
The Test scenario has been a mixed bag for the Pakistani side in the whites as, in one match they were plummeting England with all guns and in another, they got pelted by the home side. Pakistan will play 5 ODIs against England and will follow it up with a tour of Ireland where they will play 2 ODIs.
The Pace attack for the Limited overs side looks complete and balanced compared to the test squad as Umar gul’s experience and his temperament would largely contribute towards Pakistan’s road to victory. The veteran has played 125 ODI’s in which he inflicted 173 batsmen. Gul who had last played an ODI was back in 2015 when Pakistan toured Bangladesh for a 3 match series where they were whitewashed as the home side were at their blistering best. He couldn’t shatter the Bangla line-up with his spell of 7-0-53-0.
Gul’s Average in England is 20.57 accompanied with an economy of 5.68 which is considerably good as there have been numerous amendments in favour of the batsmen. Incidentally, Gul has picked up his career best 6/42 in England which gives him the edge over the other bowlers. The ever swinging English pitches will definitely provide him some lateral movement in the air which will be quite disturbing for the English batsmen to face when coupled up with his speeds.
The Pakistani pace attack looks quite formidable with the inclusion players such as Riaz ,Aamir and Gul.
Pakistan will be playing a 2 match series against Ireland at Dublin on 18th and 20th which will give the players an insight into the playing conditions and they can tinker with their squad enough before they play against England.
The Fixtures of the England Vs Pakistan series is as follows:
1st ODI – England Vs Pakistan at the Rose Bowl, Southampton
2nd ODI – England Vs Pakistan at Lord’s, London
3rd ODI – England Vs Pakistan at Trent Bridge, Nottingham
4th ODI – England Vs Pakistan at Headingley, Leeds
5th ODI – England Vs Pakistan at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
The English side will start their campaign on a positive note as they are placed 5th on the ranking table where as the Pakistan National team are on the 9thspot.
– By Akshath Jeksani
