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England cricket team is set to face off Pakistan cricket team in the opening match of a four-match T20I series on Wednesday, May 22, at Headingley Cricket Ground in Leeds.

This series serves as an important preparation for both teams ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to be held next month in the USA and the West Indies.

The Pakistan cricket team comes into the match with match practice behind their back after playing a 3-match T20I series in England’s neighbourhood Ireland where the Babar Azam-led side won the series 2-1 despite losing the first match of the series, they came back well to win next 2 matches to win the series.

In the 3 matches played in Dublin, Ireland, Pakistan captain Babar Azam was the top scorer of the series having scored 132 runs in 3 matches at an average of 44.00 and a strike rate of 148.31. Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi displayed his vintage form as the left-arm pacer picked 7 wickets averaging just 12.71.

As for the England cricket team, they came into the series without playing any international since their Test series against India in India where they lost 4-1. The last T20I series they played was in December 2023 where they lost 3-2 to West Indies away from home. However, the English players come into the series with some T20 cricket in the IPL 2024.

England vs Pakistan Headingley Pitch Report

The pitch at Headingley is known for its pace and bounce, particularly in the early overs. Fast bowlers can exploit these conditions to generate significant movement, making the initial overs challenging for batsmen. As the game progresses, the pitch tends to become more batter-friendly, offering less support for spinners initially. However, in the second innings, the pitch typically dries out, making spinners more effective. Therefore, winning the toss and opting to bat first is generally considered a wise strategy at this venue.

England vs Pakistan Leeds Weather Forecast

The weather in Leeds on Wednesday predicts a 41% chance of rain. Temperatures will be on the cooler side at 13 degrees Celsius, with high humidity levels around 95%, leading to a muggy day. Winds are expected to blow at 13 km/h, which might affect play and add to the overall damp conditions.

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