Babar Azam’s captaincy has been thoroughly tested since he returned to the post at the end of March this year. Handed back the responsibility ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, the Pakistan skipper has struggled. He managed to draw a 5-match series against a second-string New Zealand side, 2-2, and won the series against Ireland, 2-1, after losing the first game.
No T20 World Cup 2024 warm-up matches for Pakistan
The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) attempt to prepare for the mega-event has backfired as well. The Men in Green are scheduled to face England away from home for a match series that’ll be played from May 22 to 30. Babar Azam couldn’t have asked for better practice, facing the defending champions mere days before their campaign starts.
Their facing Jos Buttler’s men also means that they’ll warm-up matches ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024. Yesterday, Cricbuzz reported that practice games to prepare for the mega-event will take place on May 25 and 26. But, since Pakistan is already scheduled to play England, they’ll miss out on an important opportunity to get acclimatized to the pitches in the USA.
Pakistan Cricket
How missing warm-up matches could hurt Babar Azam and co?
The Pakistan cricket team is scheduled to play its four Group A matches at three different venues (Dallas, New York, and Florida). That means they’ll have no idea how the pitches will play. If they played even one or two matches at one of the three venues they are scheduled to play, that would help them qualify for the Super 8.
Pakistan has two tough matches in India and Ireland. Their first match is against the home side, the USA, and then they face their arch-rivals on June 9, against whom they have a 7-1 record in the T20 World Cup. Their third match is easy (Canada), but their final game will be against Ireland, who beat them on May 10.
