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MUMBAI: Shoaib Malik will captain Pakistan in both Twenty20 internationals against England in Dubai this month despite the return of regular captain Shahid Afridi ( for the second game) because the board does not want to change leaders in the middle of tours. Pakistan will look to stamp their authority on this format of the game as they are the current T20 World Champions. Watch the two sides go head to head live on Ten Sports (please check the schedule)
In their recent outing to Australia, the Pakistanis almost won the only T20 match that they played, but the close game would go down as a loss in the record books.
For England this mini Twenty20 International series at the Dubai Sports City Stadium would be viewed as a chance to see how the side gels in this format of the game ahead of the world cup that they will hosy, to be played in April/May . The English will be led by the charismatic all-rounder Paul Collingwood. The Team moves to Bangladesh at the end of this short tour to play 3 one day matches and 2 Tests.
The UAE for all practical purposes is Pakistan?s home for cricket for the time being. There is no dearth of support in these parts for the team and that always adds to the overall atmosphere that?s so crucial to a format like Twenty20.
