As Pakistan prepare for their second encounter with England in the ongoing tri-nation series, speculation continues over possible changes to the playing XI. Pakistan captain Shaheed Afridi, however, believes that having several players competing for places through strong performances is a “good headache to have”.
With opening batter Saim Ayub struggling to find form, Fakhar Zaman yet to make a significant impact in the tournament, and specialist spinner Abrar Ahmed still awaiting his first appearance, questions about Pakistan’s potential team combination for Sunday’s match against England dominated the ODI captain’s pre-match press conference.
Addressing concerns about Saim Ayub’s recent lack of runs and whether his performances were a worry for the captain, Afridi defended the young opener.
“We are too quick to declare players as bad players, after one or two series,” he said.
The captain explained that Saim’s presence provided Pakistan with an “edge” during Tuesday’s encounter against England, particularly when the team required additional spin-bowling options in the middle overs to “contain” the opposition.
“Imagine we didn’t have Saim at that point, and had instead an extra fast bowler, when the ball was coming onto the bat too easily. So Saim gives you that edge.”
Afridi also expressed confidence in Fakhar Zaman despite his recent performances, describing the experienced opener as a “main player” in Pakistan’s ODI setup and emphasising that his inclusion in the side remains “very important.”
Speaking about the competition for places in the team, the captain welcomed the selection challenge created by players delivering strong performances.
“I think this is a good headache to have, that everyone is performing,” he said.
As an example, Afridi highlighted Hasan Nawaz, who returned to the national side after spending time refining his skills through domestic and club cricket. His preparations included participation in the four-team One-day tournament organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board in August.
Hasan’s contribution proved particularly valuable during Pakistan’s opening match against England, where his innings played an important role in reviving the team’s challenge after a difficult period.
The debate surrounding Pakistan’s team selection has also focused on the continued absence of specialist spinner Abrar Ahmed, who has yet to feature in the ongoing series.
Addressing the matter, Shaheen emphasised Abrar’s importance to Pakistan’s spin-bowling attack and explained that his selection would depend on the conditions.
“Abrar is the main bowler of our spin unit, and if we feel even slightly that the wicket will help spinners, we will obviously chip him in,” said Shaheen.
He further explained that Pakistan’s preference for all-rounders is based on the nature of the pitches encountered during the tournament. According to him, such conditions make it essential to have a “need a proper all-rounder” option available, even as low as number eight in the batting order.
To support his argument, Shaheen referred to Arafat Minhas’ half-century and Faheem Ashraf’s valuable late contribution during Tuesday’s match, highlighting how their performances strengthened Pakistan’s position.
The ongoing tri-nation series is also serving as an important part of Pakistan’s preparations for next year’s ODI World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Discussing the conditions expected at the global tournament, Shaheen stressed the significance of having a strong pace-bowling attack.
“Where we will play the World Cup, the bowling of fast-bowlers is extremely important,” he said.
The Pakistan captain also underlined the importance of maintaining stability in the playing XI rather than frequently altering the team combination.
“Changes are not that easy, they don’t allow players to settle,” he said.
He explained that the team management aims to avoid unnecessary changes during a series, allowing players sufficient opportunities to establish themselves. The primary objective, he added, is to develop a settled and consistent lineup capable of delivering reliable performances.
‘An Incredible Cricket Match’
England suffered defeat in their previous match against Sri Lanka, who produced an extraordinary performance to complete the second-highest successful run chase in ODI cricket history. The remarkable victory overshadowed Harry Brook’s record-breaking double-century. Following the defeat, England now need to win both of their remaining matches to secure a place in the tournament final.
Speaking about Pakistan’s approach to the upcoming contest, Shaheen emphasised that his team remains focused on its own performance rather than the results or strategies of other sides.
“Look, we have nothing to do with the other teams, about how many runs they are scoring or what their mindset is. Our mindset is that we need to win the match,” said Shaheen.
Meanwhile, England spinner Will Jacks praised the thrilling encounter against Sri Lanka during his pre-match media briefing, acknowledging the exceptional standard of cricket displayed in Thursday night’s contest.
“You have to appreciate what an amazing game of cricket it was,” said England spinner Will Jacks in his pre-match press conference about Thursday night’s game.
England all-rounder Will Jacks expressed confidence in his team’s ability to recover from recent setbacks, emphasising that their qualification hopes remain alive despite the pressure of winning their remaining group-stage fixtures.
“I think we’ve got a good chance now to bounce back. We’ve still got two more group games in this series and we know now we’re in a very simple situation where we we have to win both.”
Discussing the upcoming matches in Lahore, where the tournament will shift for its next phase, Jacks suggested that the playing surfaces could offer batting-friendly conditions similar to those experienced in Rawalpindi. However, he acknowledged that England would need to carefully evaluate the conditions before deciding whether to make changes to their lineup.
“We’ll need to have a look tonight and see how the training pitches play and then assess tomorrow.”
When questioned about England’s difficulties in achieving ODI victories in Pakistan, Jacks rejected the suggestion that the team was facing any particular problem. Instead, he pointed to the challenges associated with adapting to unfamiliar playing conditions during overseas tours.
“I wouldn’t say we have an issue. I’d say that like any touring side here, it’s foreign conditions and you have to work your way through each individual match,” said Jacks.
England’s recent record in Pakistan has included defeats in their previous two matches of the ongoing tri-nation series. The team also suffered a loss against Afghanistan during the Champions Trophy encounter held in Lahore last February.
Despite those disappointing results, Jacks spoke positively about the experience of playing cricket in Pakistan, recognising the enthusiasm and passion of local supporters.
“Touring Pakistan is really exciting for a foreign player. We know how much the game of cricket is valued and loved.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming fixture, the England all-rounder expressed optimism that the match would provide an enjoyable experience for both players and spectators.
“It should be a great occasion and hopefully a good game.”
