In a blow to England’s cricket team, two key England players, Mark Wood and Liam Livingstone, are set to miss several games in the four-match T20I series against Pakistan due to injuries.
Injury Updates
Mark Wood, who last played in the final Test against India in Dharamshala two months ago, is currently recovering from a minor issue with his left knee. Despite being seen running during training on Tuesday, he isn’t fit to play yet. On the other hand, Liam Livingstone is nursing a right knee injury sustained during the Indian Premier League last month. Both players are being closely monitored to ensure they are fit for the upcoming World Cup.
Impact on the Series
England’s captain, Jos Buttler, confirmed ahead of the first T20I that both Wood and Livingstone were unavailable. The opening match, scheduled to take place in Leeds, was washed out due to rain.
Buttler highlighted the priority of family, mentioning he would attend the imminent birth of his third child, even if it means missing games during the World Cup. In his absence, Moeen Ali will lead the team, and Phil Salt or Jonny Bairstow will handle wicketkeeping duties.
Upcoming Matches
The second T20I is scheduled for May 25th in Birmingham at 6:30 PM (PST). England and Pakistan are set to clash with the following squads:
England:
- Jos Buttler (c)
- Moeen Ali
- Jofra Archer
- Jonathan Bairstow
- Harry Brook
- Sam Curran
- Ben Duckett
- Tom Hartley
- Will Jacks
- Chris Jordan
- Liam Livingstone
- Adil Rashid
- Phil Salt
- Reece Topley
- Mark Wood
Pakistan:
- Babar Azam (c)
- Abrar Ahmed
- Azam Khan
- Fakhar Zaman
- Haris Rauf
- Hasan Ali
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Imad Wasim
- Mohammad Abbas Afridi
- Mohammad Amir
- Mohammad Rizwan
- Irfan Khan
- Naseem Shah
- Saim Ayub
- Salman Agha
- Shadab Khan
- Shaheen Afridi
- Usman Khan
Remaining Fixtures
- May 25: Second T20I in Birmingham
- May 28: Third T20I in Cardiff
- May 30: Fourth T20I at The Oval
As the series progresses, fans and team management will be eagerly watching the recovery of England players, Wood and Livingstone, hoping for their swift return to full fitness.
