Pakistan team find themselves stuck in a vicious cycle of problems that must be giving a slight headache to the team management. The slow-strike rate is denting the T20I side to post formidable totals, and the middle-order is unreliable and has been misfiring - a major factor that has contributed to greenshirts  three defeats on the trot. 

Pakistan have developed their own distinct template for success in T20I cricket over the last few years which is to lay a solid platform and then it becomes absolutely necessary for the middle-order to tee off but if this approach backfires, Pakistan's bowlers are often found under pressure to defend modest totals.

England got the ideal start of their tour as they registered a commanding win and never seemed ruffled during the series opener. Alex Hales fluent half-century shepherded his side to a comfortable win.  Pakistan must have been shaken by the way they were outclassed by a team which is trying to extract the maximum from this series. The hosts tried to claw their way back in the game but with every passing over, England were inching closer to a clinical win.

The Babar Azam-led side is looking to get their combination right and inducted in-form Shan Masood into the team. The southpaw couldn't play an innings of substance in the first T20I and it remains to be seen if he can carry his rich vein of form while donning the national colours. 

Pakistan missed Shadab Khan in the first T20I as he looked spot on the recently Asia Cup 2022 and Usman Qadir - even though has the ability to stun batters with some delicious leg-breaks and googlies - every now and then he goes off the radar and the looseners release all the pressure.

However, this is an opportunity for the leggie to make his case strong in a bid to become a regular member of the playing XI instead of warming the bench. If he comes good, the management may show more faith in him bearing in mind he has played plenty of cricket in Australia where the World Cup is set to get underway next month.

Moeen Ali will be content as captain but his own performance was not top-notch, but taking into consideration his experience in the PSL and being familiar with the conditions, a solid knock is on the cards. That being said, with Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Phil Salt in their ranks, England have got plenty of depth to counter Pakistan's bowling attack which is lacking some of their mainstays.

Quotes

“I do not play for my own performances, I play according to the requirements of the team. We don’t look for individual performances while playing [for Pakistan],” said Usman Qadir.

“Three years felt like forever, but to get out there today and score a fifty on my return in a winning team is stuff dreams are made up of,” Alex Hales said. 

Squads

England

Jos Buttler (C), Moeen Ali (VC), Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Liam Dawson, Richard Gleeson, Tom Helm, Will Jacks, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Olly Stone, Reece Topley, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Luke Wood, Mark Wood

Pakistan

Babar Azam (C), Shadab Khan (VC), Aamir Jamal, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shan Masood and Usman Qadir