Last Updated on 1 month by Charbel Coorey

PAK vs ENG 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | PAK vs ENG 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Karachi Pitch Report

It’s time for some history. The last time England toured Pakistan, they were fresh off victory in one of the most memorable Test series of all time, the 2005 Ashes. Even since the Lahore events of 2009, it seems unthinkable that England haven’t toured Pakistan in that time, but all that wonder can be put to bed as the two sides line up for one of seven T20Is in a marathon series ahead of the World Cup.

Asia Cup 2022 Finalists Pakistan will be aiming for the perfect start. A lot has been made of their strike rates, and rightly so, with a focus on anchoring the innings ultimately costing them the Final against Sri Lanka. If they are to make an impact in the upcoming World Cup, one feels Pakistan need to shelve the desire to anchor for extended periods. The onus is on Babar Azam, who was coy on strike rates in the lead up to this series, to have a much better time of things than in the recent Asia Cup.

Babar and Pakistan will have the opportunity to find form against a new-look England side decimated by injuries. The tourists themselves have had a tough year in T20Is, with poor performances in the powerplay with bat and ball meaning they have a lot of catching up to do. David Willey and the returning Alex Hales will be key in rectifying that.

PAK vs ENG 1st T20 Possible Playing XI

Shan Masood is expected to be rewarded for his outstanding 2022 and make his T20I debut in place of the injured Fakhar Zaman. Also, Mohammad Rizwan is expected to be rested after a big Asia Cup campaign. Shaheen Shah Afridi is still unavailable.

Pakistan: 1. Babar Azam (c), 2. Shan Masood, 3. Mohammad Haris (wk), 4. Iftikhar Ahmed, 5. Khushdil Shah, 6. Shadab Khan, 7. Asif Ali, 8. Mohammad Nawaz, 9. Naseem Shah, 10. Haris Rauf, 11. Mohammad Hasnain

England are battling injuries. Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood are unavailable until the Lahore matches. Reece Topley is also out with an ankle issue. Jonny Bairstow is out of the World Cup too due to a freak injury.

However, this series marks the return of Alex Hales. It has been a long time coming. Moeen Ali will lead the team.

England: 1. Alex Hales, 2. Phil Salt (wk), 3. Dawid Malan, 4. Harry Brook, 5. Moeen Ali (c), 6. Will Jacks, 7. Sam Curran, 8. David Willey, 9. Adil Rashid, 10. Olly Stone, 11. Richard Gleeson

PAK vs ENG 1st T20 Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Pakistan:

• The spotlight is on Babar Azam after a poor Asia Cup. The captain has a terrific record in T20s at Karachi National Stadium, with 1,458 runs in 34 matches at an average of 60.75 and strike rate of 133.15.
• Shan Masood has had a year to remember. In 26 T20s in 2022, Masood has struck 1,025 runs at an average of 42.71 and strike rate of 139.08.
• At Karachi in PSL 2022, Masood made scores of 35 (25), 43 (31), 88 (58), 83 (50) and 26 (18).
• Khushdil Shah had a memorable PSL 2022 campaign, where many of the games were played on this ground. In 16 T20s at Karachi, Khushdil has scored 246 runs at an average of 30.75 and strike rate of 138.20. Also, he took the fifth-most wickets in this year’s PSL (16) at an economy of 6.89 and strike rate of 12.1.
• No bowler has more wickets in T20s at Karachi than Shadab Khan. The legspinner has taken 32 wickets in just 21 matches at an average of 18.09 and strike rate of 14.91.
• Mohammad Nawaz was one of Pakistan’s top performers in the recent Asia Cup. Expect him to have a say in the powerplay and middle overs as England are expected to have at least four right-handers in their top six.
• Mohammad Hasnain in T20s at Karachi: 16 inns, 24 wickets, avg. 20.63, SR 14.96.

England:

• Welcome back, Alex Hales. England are in need of a powerplay boost, and Hales has been magnificent at that stage in T20s this year, with 876 runs at a strike rate of 171.1.
• In 14 innings at the National Stadium, Hales has smashed 411 runs at an average of 31.62 and strike rate of 141.24.
• Phil Salt has struck 553 runs at a strike rate of 156.2 between overs 1-6 this year. The keeper-batsman will be looking to make amends after a poor PSL 2022 campaign where he scored just 63 runs in eight innings at an average of 9.00.
• Watch out for the impressive Harry Brook. He smashed a century in PSL 2022, part of 874 runs in 35 short-form matches this year at an average of 33.62 and strike rate of 156.07.
• Moeen Ali will be key as a spin hitter in the middle overs. Between overs 7-16 this year, Moeen has scored 615 runs at an average of 27.95 strike rate of 148.55. Also, there are a few left-handers to target with his off-spin.
• Adil Rashid vs Pakistan: 9 inns, 12 wickets, avg. 22.41, econ. 7.68, SR 17.5.
• Richard Gleeson will be key as a yorker exponent in the death overs. He strikes every 7.5 deliveries on average between overs 16 and 20 in T20s in 2022.

Other Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 21, Pakistan 6, England 14, N/R 1.
• Shadab Khan has a batting strike rate of 152.57 in 15 innings at Karachi (267 runs, avg. 22.25).
• Dawid Malan has an important role to play in the absence of key players. He will be aiming to improve on his record against Pakistan which reads: 6 inns, 117 runs, avg. 23.40, SR 105.40.

National Stadium Karachi Pitch Report and Weather

It is usually a batting paradise in Karachi, where the ball skids through. According to reports, it is a hard surface for the first T20I.

In PSL 2022, the team batting first won eight games compared to seven for the chasing teams on this ground. The average first innings score was 182.67 in these 15 matches. Nonetheless, expect the captain who wins the toss to choose to chase with a chance of dew in hot and humid conditions.

PAK vs ENG 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today 20 September 2022

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article as well as your own instincts to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Base Team:

• Wicket-Keepers: Phil Salt
• Batsmen: Babar Azam, Alex Hales, Harry Brook, Shan Masood
• All-Rounders: Moeen Ali, Shadab Khan
• Bowlers: Naseem Shah

PAK vs ENG 1st T20 Match Prediction: Who Will Win?

Pakistan to win.