KARACHI: The absence of a few big names from the England squad touring Pakistan for the upcoming seven-match Twenty20 International series doesn’t make the visiting side a second-string one, its stand-in captain Moeen Ali has said.
Moeen is set to lead England in the series with skipper Jos Buttler nursing a calf injury he picked up during The Hundred last month. The swashbuckling wicket-keeper/batter, though, is part of England’s touring party to Pakistan.
England, however, have left star all-rounder and Test skipper Ben Stokes, big-hitting batter Liam Livingstone and pacer Chris Jordan back home, despite the trio being named in the 50-over world champions’ squad for next month’s T20 World Cup.
While Livingstone and Jordan are recovering from injuries as well, Stokes has been rested ahead of the T20 showpiece, set to be held in Australia. Opener Jason Roy missed out on both tours due to a dip in form while batter Jonny Bairstow and fast-bowler Jofra Archer are out due to injury too.
“The only person who is not here is Ben Stokes,” Moeen said during a press conference before the team’s practice session here at the National Stadium on Sunday.
“The guys who could be here; Jonny Bairstow is injured, Jason Roy has been dropped and obviously Jofra Archer is injured,” added the all-rounder.
Moeen claimed England had selected the best available players for the Pakistan tour and that most changes were forced due to what he believed were unfortunate circumstances.
