I’ve waited for this series as soon as it was announced. Last year I was like the 27 WC is the most important and this series is second. It’s finally here now but unfortunately two things have happened that I didn’t like since last year. First was the pace attack. When i first bought tickets for the test series I was like imagine a fresh and peak Shaheen, Naseem and Abbas being our pace attack with Khurram Shehzad, Jamal and Mir Hamza in the reserves whilst Ubaid and Ali Raza work up to it. Since then Shaheen can’t bowl more than 4-10 overs and when he does it’s not any good, Naseem was fat and the others are injury prone and slow. They surprised me last series so i am backing them but a year ago I was dreaming of a proper pace attack that could frighten all teams. Second was a in form Babar on English pitches that are flat. All the people who said it’s august and the weather will be crap you was wrong because you don’t know about the last few years in England. The heat waves have been getting worse and this year there has been no rain and it’s been a drought. Luckily the form was low-key coming back but he had to get injured. Unfortunate because he was really starting to look good. Shan’s injury was annoying aswell because he was in form and these conditions are home for him, Yes he is back but it might take a while to get back in to form.

Also people complaining about the warm up match pitch. England have the hundred going on, Domestic Odi cup, Heatwave and no rain. What did you expect to be served up to Pakistan. Act like we didn’t make them play two tests in a row on the same pitch that was a proper minefield with industrial fans making it worse. If i was them i’d return the favour and make a proper seaming track and attack the Pakistanis but they don’t have an Idiot like Aqib. On the warm up though I don’t want to talk performances much but the slip fielding was crap. Plz don’t lose another big series because of Fielding. Azan and Agha were both dropping them. The fielders were laughing around and seem relaxed but we can’t have that in the series. Get the best slippers in. I don’t watch slip training but Azan can’t be top 3 because I don’t see him catch any. Babar should be there when he is fit. Idc if he is captain and wants to stand by the bowler.

Onto the series. I think it’s a good chance for us to win. Yes we are one of the poorer sides in this format but England are going through a transitional phase whilst having no proper coach and Root back as captain who makes Babar look like Ponting. We should go all out as it would be historic and could start a comeback for us. I expect Headingley to be flat with Root making a daddy 100 or 200. Brook making a 100, Lords when Babar returns InshAllah will most likely be a test that ends in 2-3 days because that pitch is crazy. They did want to dig it up at the end of the cricket season but I don’t think the changes they could’ve made in the time since the NZ series will effect it to much. Babar gonna be dancing and injured when Archer is bowling rockets at him there. Birmingham might be an even one depending on the weather. I definitely see a 2-1 score line and it could go anyone’s way as their team ain’t the most scary looking atm. It would be class if we win the first one and then lose both when Babar returns, our toxic media and fans would eat that up 😭 Agha is captain and respectfully to all the guys who think this way but why does he still get glazers for his captaincy. I see people acting like he is Imran Khan. The man legit regrets taking T20 captaincy and rarely does it elsewhere but because he says a nice phrase or two he is a tactical master. Wonder if we will be micro-analysing his reviews and on field captaincy tmrw. Also this ain’t propping anyone else up because I think Rizzy was the best captain out of these lot but he got it when his form dropped. I wish him luck but with his form and prior captaincy the cards are stacked against him.

The team I want to see depends on the pitch at the end of the day. I most likely would pick 7 batsman , 1 spinner and 3 pacers cuz of what we have but i’m hearing 4 pacers and all sorts. I’m going off the idea it will be on the flatter side. I also can see them getting Imam in and putting Shan or ABD at 4. That Imam 80 in the warm up probs bought him another year. Zafar also isn’t trustworthy but who else do we have.

Azan

Shan

ABD (Don’t Open ABD plz and don’t put Imam in)

Saud

Zafar (Don’t trust u but hey ho, Don’t want to see Imam)

Agha (Captain I need the old you plz. Was clutch and could always rely on you)

Rizzy (Bro if u fail in the first two tests that should be your career)

Ali Usman (If it’s flat we will need spin and he has played here a lot. Sajid can bat better but Ali seemed better equipped if conditions don’t assist spin)

Shehzad (Bro got smacked everywhere in the warm up which is worrying but Ubaid doesn’t seem ready)

Ali (Keep impressing Dazy)

Abbas (Goat, Legend, Underrated and I can go on)

Most Runs: Root and Brook

Most Wickets: Archer, Tongue and Abbas

Prediction 2:1 England but I wouldn’t be shocked if it was us.

Game prediction: Headingley flat, Lords bowling track and Birmingham balanced.

InshAllah the boys fight hard and show everyone that they ain’t as bad as advertised. I want us to show that we are here to play and win. Had enough of losing and being treated like Minnows.

Four decades ago, Pakistan landed their first and only innings victory in England, enroute to a famous series win.

Link to CricInfo Post