England vs Pakistan 1st T20I Prediction, Picks & Odds

• England have been on a roll. They won their recent T20I series 3-0 against Sri Lanka and even won the ODI series against Pakistan 3-0 despite missing most of their first-choice players. 
• Pakistan are at full strength and have lost just one bilateral T20I series since the start of 2020.
• England’s powerful batting and terrific white-ball form could make the difference.

England vs Pakistan Odds

Odds from BetMGM. Get up to a $600 sign-up bonus at BetMGM today or check out more offers and promo codes for the best online sportsbooks.

England vs Pakistan Prediction and Pick

Predicted XI

England: Jason Roy, Jos Buttler (wk), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Eoin Morgan (c), Liam Livingstone, Lewis Gregory, David Willey, Chris Jordan, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Sohaib Maqsood, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Qadir, Haris Rauf

How to Watch England vs Pakistan

Can the Change in Format Change Pakistan’s Fortunes?

England were rocked just before the ODI series got underway. Their entire side was sent into isolation after three players and four members of the support staff tested positive for COVID-19. A whole-new 18-man squad and fielded five debutants in this series (each of them played all three games). Yet, Pakistan were blown away.

Pakistan’s batting didn’t fire in the first two games while the bowling couldn’t defend 332 in the third ODI. However, Babar Azam and Co. will hope that a change in format brings some change in fortune for Pakistan. They have been better in the T20I format. The ‘Men in Green’ have lost just three T20Is since the start of 2021 as they recorded series wins against South Africa (twice – home and away) and Zimbabwe. Their top-order batting looks solid with consistent Mohammad Rizwan moving to the top while the bowling attack will be similar to what they played in the ODI series.

Meanwhile, England have been dominant even in the shortest format. Since August 2018, they have lost just one bilateral T20I series which was against India (2-3) earlier this year. Their batting looks formidable and Jos Buttler’s return only bolsters it. The bowling has fared quite well too and has been consistent. Despite England’s bowling attack being chopped and changed constantly, they have found players to get the job done.

England are looking in great shape and they have excellent balance as well in spite of Ben Stokes being rested. That underlines the depth of the England white-ball squads. Moreover, the senior players are back from isolation and they return to the T20I squad. Pakistan will have their task cut out against a top-class England side. Also, Pakistan’s T20I record against England isn’t great either as it is 12-5 in favor of Eoin Morgan’s men.

Team News

England have named a 16-man squad for this three-match T20I series. Eoin Morgan is back as captain while other T20I and white-ball regulars return. Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Mark Wood, Liam Dawson and Sam Billings who were a part of the T20I series against Sri Lanka have not been included. Meanwhile, Ben Stokes has been rested once again. Jake Ball, Saqib Mahmood, Matt Parkinson who were a part of the ODI side have been retained for the shortest format as well.

Meanwhile, Pakistan have the likes of Mohammad Hafeez, Sharjeel Khan, Azam Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr and Arshad Iqbal available for the T20Is. But they are likely to field a XI similar to what played in South Africa and Zimbabwe earlier this year.

Key Players

Jos Buttler: Jos Buttler is returning to the England side after recovering from his calf injury which saw him miss two T20Is against Sri Lanka followed by the ODI series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. He is going to be the key at the top of the order for England. The wicket-keeper batsman has a terrific record while opening for England in T20Is. He has smashed 795 runs at an average of 53 and nine fifties in T20Is at the top of the order.

Mohammad Rizwan: Mohammad Rizwan has been supremely consistent in T20 cricket in the recent past. He has churned out big runs regularly at the top of the order. The wicket-keeper batsman has amassed 530 runs at an average of 106.00 and a strike-rate of 141.71. He has recorded five half-centuries and a ton as well. Besides this, he aggregated 500 runs at an average of 45.45 in the PSL 2021.