Rain Disrupts Third T20 Between England and Pakistan

Introduction

The third T20 International (T20I) match between England and Pakistan was abandoned due to persistent rain. This cancellation leaves both teams with limited match practice before the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Match Details

• Location: Cardiff
• Status: The match was abandoned without a ball being bowled
• Impact: Second washout of the series, with the first match in Leeds also being rained out

Series Overview

• Scheduled Overs: Only 39.2 of the planned 120 overs have been played so far.
• Match Practice: Both teams head to the T20 World Cup with fewer practice matches than anticipated.

England’s Squad Adjustments

• Captain’s Absence: Jos Buttler, the England captain, did not travel to Cardiff. Moeen Ali was set to lead the team in his absence.
• Reason for Absence: Buttler left the squad to be with his wife, who is expecting their third child.
• Player Updates:
  • Mark Wood: Was supposed to play his first match since early March.
  • Sam Curran: Set to feature after being left out in the previous game.
  • Jofra Archer: Expected to be rested due to his recent injury recovery.

Future Plans

• Buttler’s Return: Buttler is expected to travel to Barbados with the England squad and may return for the final match of the series at The Oval on Thursday.
• Weather Concerns: The weather forecast for South London is not promising, but there is hope for a shortened match.

Preparation for the World Cup

• Match Practice: Both teams are underprepared compared to other teams participating in the World Cup.
• Pakistan’s Advantage: Pakistan has played more T20I matches recently, including a series against New Zealand and Ireland.

Weather and Abandonment

• Rain in Cardiff: Heavy rain throughout Tuesday caused delays.
• Match Abandonment: The rain briefly stopped but resumed, leading to the match being called off at 8:12 PM.

Conclusion

The abandonment of the third T20I match between England and Pakistan due to rain adds to the challenges both teams face in preparing for the T20 World Cup. With limited match practice, both sides will need to make the most of their remaining opportunities before the tournament begins.

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Sources:

• ESPNcricinfo: Rain wrecks third T20I between England and Pakistan

References:

The third T20 International (T20I) match between England and Pakistan, scheduled to be held in Cardiff, was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to persistent rain. This washout marked the second match in the four-match series to be affected by rain, with the first T20I in Leeds also being abandoned due to inclement weather​ (India Today)​​ (Pakistan Today)​.

The series, serving as a preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup, saw England lead 1-0 after their victory in the second T20I in Birmingham. Both teams faced disruptions in their final preparations due to the weather, as this series was one of their last opportunities to fine-tune their squads ahead of the World Cup​ (India Today)​.