England v Pakistan T20: Ben Stokes in strong squad, Sarfraz Ahmed leads Pakistan
Wednesday 7 September 2016 22:06, UK
All-rounder Ben Stokes is in line to make his first T20 appearance for England since the ICC World Twenty20 final when England take on Pakistan at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Stokes, struck for four consecutive sixes by West Indies match-winner Carlos Brathwaite, is part of a strong 14-man squad as England aim to round off their international home season on a high.
England's hopes of going through the summer unbeaten in white-ball cricket ended with Pakistan's four-wicket victory in Sunday's fifth and final one-day international.
But even with an unassailable 16-10 lead in the Super Series, all-rounder Chris Jordan says strength in depth will ensure that the team continues to play at a 'very high intensity'.
Jordan bowled England to a Super Over victory that earned a 3-0 series whitewash over Pakistan when the teams met in the United Arab Emirates last November and admitted: "It brings back good memories.
"Luckily I was able to deliver and that can only give you confidence because it's a high-pressure situation with all eyes on you.
"You have six balls to execute your skills and luckily I was able to do it on that day. Hopefully it doesn't come to that at Old Trafford but first and foremost, any time you put on an England shirt you want to be giving 150 per cent.
"There's a lot riding on the game - we'll have fans coming out wanting us to win and also everyone has their own personal gains - and we'll be playing at a very high intensity. We've been playing some great white-ball cricket and we just want to continue that.
"Everyone's role is very clear and the competition for places can only benefit the team. Everyone's skill level will have to go up another notch."
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Joe Root - rested for the T20 against Sri Lanka earlier in the summer - is expected to return to the side, while Alex Hales and Moeen Ali are also vying for selection after sitting out England's eight-wicket success at the Ageas Bowl in July.
Seamer Mark Wood is in the frame having missed that match due to injury but there is no place for Hampshire duo James Vince or Liam Dawson, who took 3-27 against Sri Lanka and was dropped from the squad before making his ODI debut in Sunday's one-dayer.
With no place for Jonny Bairstow either, Jos Buttler is expected to return as wicketkeeper after being ruled out of the final two ODIs with a tight hamstring.
Pakistan will be led for the first time in T20 cricket by Sarfraz Ahmed, appointed as Shahid Afridi's successor in the wake of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup.
Sarfraz struck 300 runs at an average of 60 to finish as his country's leading run-scorer in the ODI series after striking a match-winning 90 off 73 balls in the final match of the series to go with his century at Lord's.
The 29-year-old says he is keen to follow England's example and encourage his side to play a more attacking style of cricket.
"After the World Cup, we are trying to develop a new ODI team - and the morale is high after Cardiff. It's a positive thing for us to win from 4-0 down - a great achievement chasing 300 outside of Asia.
"We are very confident. We are trying to develop a new team with youngsters and play Twenty20 like England and Australia."
Seamer Hasan Ali - Pakistan's leading wicket-taker with eight scalps in the ODIs - is in line to make his T20 debut for the tourists after Mohammad Irfan returned home last week, while Khalid Latif could join explosive opener Sharjeel Khan at the top of the order.
Umar Akmal is a not included in the squad due to his disciplinary issues over the past year but there could be a first cap for paceman Amad Butt.
Teams for the one-off NatWest Twenty20 international between England and Pakistan:
England (possible): EJG Morgan (Captain), JJ Roy, AD Hales, JE Root, BA Stokes, JC Buttler (wkt), MM Ali, AU Rashid, DJ Willey, CJ Jordan, LE Plunkett
Pakistan (possible): S Ahmed (Captain, wkt), K Latif, S Khan, B Azam, M Rizwan, S Malik, I Wasim, M Nawaz, M Amir, H Ali, A Butt
Umpires: M Gough and T Robinson
Third umpire: R Bailey
Match referee: J Crowe (NZ)
