England beat Pakistan by three wickets on Tuesday to clinch a 3-0 ODI series whitewash; the two teams will now contest a three-match IT20 series, which begins at Trent Bridge on Friday - live on Sky Sports Cricket
Thursday 15 July 2021 15:36, UK
England captain Eoin Morgan is one of several star names to return from a coronavirus-enforced absence to face Pakistan in a three-match T20 series.
Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy, Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali are also among nine players to return having missed the three-match ODI series against the same opponent after a Covid-19 outbreak in the England camp. The ECB said the impacted players have completed the required period of self-isolation and have all returned negative tests.
Members of the new-look squad that ultimately faced - and swept - Pakistan in the 50-over format have been rewarded, with bowlers Saqib Mahmood and Matt Parkinson included, along with all-rounder Lewis Gregory.
Ben Stokes, who stood in for Morgan as skipper against Pakistan, is rested along with Mark Wood, Chris Woakes and Sam Curran, but Jos Buttler returns having recovered from a calf injury, while 20-over regular Dawid Malan keeps his usual spot.
Head coach Chris Silverwood will skip the series to take a family break, having cut one short following the coronavirus drama, leaving assistant Paul Collingwood to lead the group. He had originally been scheduled to do so in the ODIs but was among those sent into isolation.
Silverwood said: "The Royal London Series success against Pakistan showcased the exciting depth of talent we have developed in men's white-ball cricket.
"We have selected a T20 squad that sees the return of many of our most experienced players after their period of isolation. Additionally, we have rewarded some of the players involved in the 50-over series win with selection which allows us to manage multi-format players as we prepare for the much-anticipated Test series against India.
"I would like to express my thanks to Ben Stokes and the players for their efforts over the last week, and the counties for their support in getting this series on."
Mahmood took nine wickets in the three matches against Pakistan to announce himself as an option for England's short-format teams, while Parkinson put himself forward as a backup to first-choice spinner Adil Rashid by taking five wickets in the series.
Gregory delivered knocks of 40 and 77, while also contributing four wickets while limiting Pakistan's scoring.
The series begins on Friday at Trent Bridge, with matches to follow at Headingley on Sunday and Old Trafford on Tuesday. England then begin a five-match Test series against India on August 4.
Mahmood was named player of the one-day series after topping the wicket charts and the economy rates against Pakistan, taking nine scalps at an average of 13.66, and looks ready for take-off at international level.
"It's been a bit of a special time for me. A week ago, no one was talking about me and I wasn't part of the squad, but obviously everything has happened very quickly," he said.
"I'm trying to take it in my stride, not focus too much on what people are saying and concentrate on what I'm doing.
"But Spoons (head coach Chris Silverwood) pulled me to the side on Tuesday and said, 'You've been bowling really well, this call-up is justification for how well you've been doing'. It was nice to hear that.
"I guess being fearless as a side is always taking the positive option.
"With ball or bat, if you feel like you can take someone down, you go for it. At times in this series we had three, four slips consistently and that comes from not worrying about runs and always trying to take wickets."
England IT20 squad for Pakistan series: Eoin Morgan (Middlesex - captain), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Jake Ball (Nottinghamshire), Tom Banton (Somerset), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Tom Curran (Surrey), Lewis Gregory (Somerset), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Dawid Malan (Yorkshire), Matt Parkinson (Lancashire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), David Willey (Yorkshire)
Watch the first match of the IT20 series between England and Pakistan at Trent Bridge from 6pm on Friday on Sky Sports Cricket.
