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It is 17 years since England’s last tour, but many of the squad have already had a taste

Matt Roller18-Sep-20221:26

‘PSL gave me chance to better myself as a player’ – Dawid Malan

On the morning of March 4, 2017, Dawid Malan and Chris Jordan had a decision to make. They sat in their rooms in a Dubai hotel texting family, friends and each other to work out whether or not they should travel to Lahore for the final of the second season of the Pakistan Super League.Eventually, they decided they would take the leap of faith, putting their trust in the PCB’s extensive security protocols and joining the second tranche of international players to travel to Pakistan since the attacks on Sri Lanka’s team bus in 2009. The game took place without a hitch and their side, Peshawar Zalmi, cruised to victory in front of over 22,000 fans.”It was a fantastic occasion,” Malan recalled in Karachi on Saturday. “I don’t think any of us thought that us coming over would have played such a big part in cricket coming back to Pakistan. It’s a cricket-loving nation who were starved of their star players for a long time… to play a small part in that has been very special.”Related

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The trip barely lasted 24 hours as the PSL took a tentative first step towards a return home after launching in the UAE the year before, but Malan and Jordan’s involvement was hugely significant: they were the first England cricketers to play professionally in Pakistan since the 2005 tour and paved the way for others to follow.The PSL is a popular product in its own right, widely regarded as the second-best short-form league in the world behind the IPL, but has also acted as a diplomatic vehicle to bring leading players – from England and elsewhere – back to Pakistan. As a result, boards can no longer hide behind claims that their players are unwilling to travel,”It did feel like a big push to get those international players involved,” Mickey Arthur, who coached Karachi Kings in the PSL’s first four seasons, recalled. “We needed individuals to come to Pakistan to help break the barriers down and the PSL was instrumental in that. It certainly helped in the perception of going to Pakistan.”The number of English players involved has grown year on year, to the extent that as many as 23 made at least one appearance in the 2022 edition. Exactly half of England’s 20-man squad for the T20I series that starts on Tuesday have played in Pakistan before; those that hadn’t spoke to their team-mates before the team’s departure to calm any nerves.”We’ve heard a lot from the PSL boys,” Sam Curran said. “I spoke to most of them to ask what to expect.” Jos Buttler said that the scale of English involvement in the PSL had “allayed some concerns” around the security situation: “They shared their positive experiences from being here – more than anything, how much the public here love their cricket.”English involvement in the PSL has not been limited to players. James Foster and Peter Moores have coached teams in it; David Gower and Nick Knight have commentated; Richard Illingworth and Michael Gough have umpired. Reg Dickason, the ECB’s security director, has also been employed as a consultant by the PCB.No Englishman has played more PSL games in Pakistan than Alex Hales•PSL”In many ways, the PSL has been a vehicle for the full return of international cricket to Pakistan,” Imran Ahmad Khan, who led player recruitment for the PSL from 2017 to 2021, said. “Just in terms of slowly changing perceptions across the cricketing world around being in Pakistan.”So many different international stakeholders get involved in the PSL’s ecosystem: players, coaches, support staff, production crew, commentators. They’ve all been able to experience Pakistan through the PSL and they’ve gone on to share that experience with others in their respective countries.”The benefits have been mutual: Pakistan has welcomed English players with open arms while the players themselves have had the opportunity to test themselves in unfamiliar conditions against high-quality players.”The PSL was a stepping stone for me,” Malan said. “It’s been fantastic for me: it taught me what I needed if I wanted to go one step further.” Countless others have benefited from the platform that the tournament has provided.Relations between the two teams are better than ever. Saturday night’s training session – the first of the tour to feature both sides – saw a number of players catch up with one another: Moeen Ali and Shan Masood, Liam Dawson and Asif Ali, Phil Salt and Shadab Khan. The bad blood that has characterised some previous tours will prove difficult to sniff out.And so, despite their 17-year absence, England are not going into this series blind. They are anticipating skiddy pitches in Karachi but sticky, bouncier ones in Lahore. “Having that experience of playing here before is a big thing,” Alex Hales, who has played more PSL games in Pakistan than any other Englishman, said.”England touring Pakistan hasn’t happened in a vacuum,” Khan said. “It’s been a result of stakeholders gaining that experience through the PSL and being able to build that confidence around playing Pakistan.” Whatever the result in Tuesday night’s series opener, the fact it is taking place at all is a victory for soft power.

The challenge for the fast bowler is to stay fit for longer periods

Deivarayan Muthu10-Mar-20201:27

Competition for spots is good thing for the team – Bhuvneshwar

Not too long ago, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was among the first names in India’s team sheet, particularly in white-ball cricket. Swing has always been Kumar’s strength and without compromising on that, he cranked his pace up to 140kph and even proved deadly with the old ball. Such a varied skillset helped him emerge as the top wicket-taker in both IPL 2016 and IPL 2017. Then, in the Champions Trophy, Kumar was also India’s leading wicket-taker, but multiple injuries, including one suffered during the World Cup last year in the UK, have pushed Kumar down the pecking order.Kumar had briefly returned to action last year during the home T20I series against West Indies, but then a groin injury sidelined him from the following ODI series. Kumar’s injury-enforced absence coincided with the rise of another swing bowler Deepak Chahar, who all but punched his T20 World Cup ticket to Australia, with a record haul of 6 for 7 against Bangladesh.ALSO READ: The comeback trio, Shaw v Gill and Bavuma v MalanHowever, Chahar is now on the injury list, while Kumar will reunite with Jasprit Bumrah, who had gone wicketless in three ODIs in New Zealand and is probably still finding his way back from injury.Arguably, this is the first time in his career that Bumrah is going through a rough patch. Things haven’t been hunky-dory for Kumar as well: aside from dealing with a surfeit of injuries, he has lost his place in the Test side. And on the whole, India’s pace attack had a torturous shift in New Zealand. Shardul Thakur kept erring with his lines and lengths – and is now out of the squad – the pace and bounce of Mohammed Shami and Navdeep Saini couldn’t bail India out either. The one key ingredient that was missing in India’s attack was swing.This is where Kumar comes back into the fray and could ease the pressure building on Bumrah in particular. Plus, he’s the most experienced bowler in India’s current white-ball group and the team management values that. Kumar and Bumrah have forged a strong partnership in the past, with India winning 31 of the 41 ODIs they have played together. Bumrah would get his exaggerated angle going and straighten the ball away from right-handers. At the other end, Kumar would swing it back into the right-handers, scrambling the mindset of batsmen in fairly contrasting styles.Bhuvneshwar Kumar will reunite with Jasprit Bumrah in Dharamsala•Associated PressKumar wasn’t at his best in the T20Is against West Indies last year, but if he can get the ball hooping in and out once again, then India’s pace attack will be complete. And there’s a good chance that the ball will nip around in the fresh mountain air of Dharamsala, the venue for the series opener against South Africa. In the last ODI played in Dharamsala, Sri Lanka’s Suranga Lakmal exploited the swinging conditions efficiently to bundle India out for a mere 112 – their lowest total batting first at home. The pitch for the third – and – final ODI at Eden Gardens might also aid swing and seam.ALSO READ: No handshakes for South Africa in IndiaThe challenge for Kumar is not his bowling as much as staying fit for longer periods. By his own admission, injuries over the last couple of years have affected his rhythm. A lower-back injury sustained during the ODI series in England in 2018 meant he missed the subsequent Test series. In the marquee clash against Pakistan during last year’s World Cup, Kumar had to limp off after picking up a left hamstring niggle. His worth can be gauged from his return in the semi-finals against New Zealand where India opted to bring him back ahead of the in-form Shami. However, Kumar then suffered from sports hernia, which disrupted his rhythm and progress once again.So it might be too much to expect Kumar to simply turn up and get banana swing that made us all sit up and take notice of him. Recently, while speaking to ESPNcricinfo, former Australia seamer Glenn McGrath explained that bowlers usually need their own time to feel their way back from the sidelines.”If you finish the season up here [indicating a high level with his hand], the next season you want to start back up here,” McGrath said, alluding to Bumrah’s post-injury phase in New Zealand. “It doesn’t work that way and it took me a few seasons to work that out. I thought this is where I want to get to [the high level] and I’m starting the season again or coming back from injury, I’m starting down here [at a lower level]. So, I’ve to realise that and allow myself a few matches to get into where I want to get to and get on that upward slope. I think that’s probably the biggest issue – the expectations from everyone, back in the team I’ve got to pick up exactly from where I left off.”Kumar only had a light workout prior to the South Africa series, participating in the DY Patil T20 tournament, an invitational event, in Mumbai. “It’s difficult to maintain pace when you return from injury,” he said on the eve of the series opener in Dharamsala. “The reason being that the possibility of getting injured again remains at the back of your mind, you worry that if you bowl at the same pace, you might get injured again. The best option is to play matches like I’d played a few matches before returning. You gain confidence from playing matches before the step-up. It’s a challenge but there are ways – you have to go through rehabilitation and work with the physio but the best way is to play matches.”Kumar will now run into Quinton de Kock, who has a stellar head-to-head record against Kumar in ODIs. The South Africa captain has hit 151 runs off 146 balls against Kumar without being dismissed. To add to that, South Africa are coming off a 3-0 whitewash in the T20Is against Australia at home and will be bolstered further by the return of former captain Faf du Plessis.Nonetheless, this series against South Africa and then the IPL will be of utmost importance for Kumar as India look to firm up their attack for the T20 World Cup later this year in Australia, where the ball might also swing.

Justin Verlander is one of the oldest players in MLB, but it doesn't seem as if he's ready to call it a career just yet. Now in the midst of his 20th season, Verlander notched his 3,500th strikeout on Sunday, and is on the verge of moving into the ninth all-time in the category. And despite not picking up a win until his 17th start of the year, he's expecting to be back on the mound in 2026.

Speaking with , Verlander acknowledged his desire to continue pitching in 2026.

"I mean, I'd like to," he said. "At this point in my career, if something goes really wrong, I'm not going to rehab a surgery or anything. I always understand that it could be it, but I think physically, I've shown some good health this season. As I've been on the mound, things have started to get better and better. To me, that's a good sign with all the work I put in after my nerve injury last year, which notoriously takes a long time. The ball's rolling in the right direction, and I would like to continue pitching. You never know. It's a fickle game too, but I think the stuff is still there."

It's not something he's shied away from in the past, and 20 starts into his age-42 season, it's clear Verlander believes he has another year left in him, if not more. Of course, he was ready to admit that a significant injury could change those plans, but if he's blessed with a clean bill of health, he sees no reason why he can't contribute so long as he still has the stuff on the mound.

In 2025, Verlander owns a 4.53 ERA with 87 strikeouts in 99 1/3 innings. He signed a one-year, $15 million deal with the Giants in the offseason, so he'll be back in free agency again in the winter, where he'll be hoping at least one team has interest in adding him to the back end of their rotation for what would be his age-43 season.

The KKR match-winner did it all, hit sixes, pick up wickets, run people out and even captain his team

Matt Roller29-Apr-20251:36

Rayudu: Narine completely dismantles oppositions

Anukul Roy turned around to embrace his team-mate. Varun Chakravarthy slapped him on the back. Rahmanullah Gurbaz beamed from ear to ear, while Ajinkya Rahane and Rinku Singh both cheered in celebration. Only Sunil Narine remained unmoved as ‘OUT’ flashed up on the big screens, utterly emotionless as he pursed his lips.It is easy to get caught up in IPL 2025’s delirium: sold-out crowds, bright floodlights, cheerleaders, smoke machines, and the strains of over a deafening public-address system. But Narine has seen and heard it all before across 186 IPL appearances; he will soon overtake Kieron Pollard as the most-capped overseas player in the league’s history.Yet even Narine’s calmness could not conceal the significance of the moment. He has spent most of his career looking utterly ambivalent to the very idea of fielding, but his dead-eye pick-up-and-throw from short fine leg was perfection. It caught KL Rahul just short of his ground at the striker’s end, and put Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on track to defend 204.Related

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“I’m obviously not the greatest fielder,” Narine said with a smile at the post-match presentation. “But it’s always good to give a good run-out whenever it’s possible.” His thought process, he said, was as simple as it could be: “Just pick up and swing, and throw the ball as hard as possible.”Two nights after a stellar all-round performance from Krunal Pandya defeated Delhi Capitals (DC), Narine delivered an even better one. His run-out came after he had cracked 27 off 16 balls from the top of the order, and shortly before he was pressed into captaincy duties with Rahane (struck on the hand) and Venkatesh Iyer (subbed out) both off the field.KL Rahul was run-out by a direct hit from Sunil Narine•Associated PressBut Narine’s biggest contribution came with the ball. His first 13 balls cost 25 runs, including three towering sixes from Axar Patel; after the third, DC needed 69 off 41 and were ahead of the game. In his next seven deliveries, Narine had put KKR in control: Axar miscued to extra cover, Tristan Stubbs was done on the inside edge, and Faf du Plessis picked out deep midwicket.Narine has been opening the batting on and off in the IPL since 2017, and opposition captains know what to expect from him by now. But his potential to wreak havoc is still enough to make bowlers – and captains – second-guess themselves: after opening the bowling two games in a row, Axar did not dare bring himself on while Narine was at the crease.He hit the first ball he faced for six – a feat nobody has done more often in the IPL – by swinging Dushmantha Chameera straight back over his head, and his opening stand with Rahmanullah Gurbaz was worth 48 in just under three overs. Kevin Pietersen, DC’s mentor, said that Narine’s presence had prompted Axar to give Mitchell Starc a third over in the powerplay; he gave the strike to Rahane, who slog-swept him for six then whipped him for four.And with the ball, Narine remains a banker for any captain under pressure – including, on this occasion, himself. His lengths are typically immaculate, and while analysts now have more than 500 T20 matches worth of footage on Narine across nearly 15 years, batters still struggle to read his variations out of the hand.”He’s been a champion bowler for this franchise,” Rahane said. “It’s so good to have him and Varun in the team: I can always go back to them whenever we are in trouble… He’s been working really hard, coming early for the practice sessions, bowling for hours and hours in the nets.”Tristan Stubbs was bowled by Sunil Narine•Getty ImagesNarine has never been an expressive player: he has very rarely given interviews outside of contractual obligations, and wears his emotions lightly. But it is all too easy to make assumptions about players’ character without knowing them: Andre Russell, the man who has played more with Narine than anyone else, believes he is misunderstood.”He’s very active when he’s on the field,” Russell said. “A lot of guys maybe misjudge him. He’s a quiet individual when he is in a certain environment, where he’s not comfortable. But on the park, he’s a leader. He’s been more talkative over the last five years, and it just goes to show that when you express yourself, you enjoy the game and your performance shows as well.”Narine is largely motivated by “self-pride” at this stage in his career, aged 36. “I always want to be able to give the captain an option that any time you’re in a pressure situation, you have someone – and that comes with hard work,” he said. “If you want to be that kind of player, you have to put in hard work.”If Narine has not quite lived up to his performances of last season, that is largely because he had set himself such a high bar: 488 runs and 17 wickets in a title-winning campaign, securing an unprecedented third MVP award. Even in what has been a relatively quiet year by his standards, Narine sits sixth in ESPNcricinfo’s own MVP rankings.It is easy to take Narine’s consistency for granted, but consider this a mark of his longevity. When KKR first signed Narine at the 2012 auction, Vaibhav Suryavanshi was yet to celebrate his first birthday. Now, Suryavanshi is an IPL centurion for Rajasthan Royals – and Narine is still winning games in purple and gold almost single-handedly.

The Yankees have had a tumultuous start following the trade deadline where they reworked their bullpen and acquired Ryan McMahon to help address their need at third base.

On Friday, new Yankees relievers gave up nine runs in three innings which led to a devastating 13–12 loss to the Marlins on a dribbler that brought in the walk-off run. Then, on Saturday, they were shutout by the Marlins 2–0 where they saw unfortunate mistakes on the base paths.

Major League Baseball held the Speedway Classic Saturday which pitted the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves in the middle of the track at Bristol Motor Speedway. The first-ever MLB game in the state of Tennessee started in a rain delay which allowed the Fox broadcast crew plenty of time to discuss the happenings across the league as they waited out the weather. As part of the broadcast crew, Yankees legend and Hall of Famer Derek Jeter didn't hold back on the team's recent struggles.

"They make way too many mistakes. Way too many mistakes," Jeter said Saturday. "And you can't get away with making that number of mistakes against great teams, it just doesn't happen. They had a baserunning mistake today, we saw the guy get thrown out at home plate.

"You can't continue to do it. You have to clean it up. I mean, it's that simple, there's no excuses. You have to play better. If you don't play better, you're not going to go very far."

Unfortunately for the Yankees, their AL East rival Red Sox won Saturday which moved them ahead of New York in the division standings by half of a game and into the AL's top wild-card spot. With many new deadline additions, it will take some time. After winning the final three games of their four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays during the week, the Yankees dropped the first two in Miami. They have a chance to avoid the sweep in a Sunday matinée at LoanDepot Park.

Goalkeeper Andre Onana has suffered another crushing blow after being left out of Cameroon’s squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations. The 29-year-old has endured a torrid 2025-26 season, having lost his position as Manchester United’s No. 1 before being allowed to move to Turkish side Trabzonspor on a season-long loan in September.

• Onana not included despite Cameroon selecting four 'keepers

  Eyebrows were raised on Monday when Cameroon released their 28-man squad for AFCON, which gets under way on Sunday, 21 December when tournament hosts Morocco take on Comoros. Despite selecting four goalkeepers, Onana was a shock absentee from The Indomitable Lions’ roster.

  Two players who have been included in the squad are United forward Bryan Mbeumo and Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba, who was strongly linked with a big-money move to Old Trafford in the summer. Former Tottenham Hotspur winger Georges-Kevin Nkoudou – who now plays for Saudi Arabian outfit Diriyah Club – has also been selected by his country.

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• Official: Cameroon's 28-man squad which does not include Onana

  Cameroon squad for the 2025 AFCON:

  Devis Epassy, Simon Omossola, Simon Ngapandouetnbu, Edouard Sombang

  Samuel Junior Kotto, Gerzino Nyamsi, Jean-Charles Castelletto, Nouhou Tolo, Flavien Enzo Boyomo, Nagida Mahamadou, Junior Tchamadeu, Christopher Wooh, Darlin Yongwa

  Martin Ndzie, Carlos Baleba, Arthur Avom, Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe, Fidel Brice Ambina, Danny Namaso, Christian Bassogog, Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, Jean Junior Onana, Olivier Kemen

  Bryan Mbeumo, Christian Kofane, Frank Magri, Karl Etta Eyong, Patrick Soko

• AFP
  

  Five-time AFCON winners also sacked manager on same day

  Capping off a chaotic 24 hours, The Cameroon Football Federation – led by former Barcelona, Chelsea and Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto’o – sacked manager Marc Brys on the same day the squad was announced. 

  The five-time AFCON winners, who have named David Pagou as Brys’ successor, face Gabon in their opening fixture in just three weeks’ time (24 December). Cameroon also take on Ivory Coast (28 December) and Mozambique (31 December) in the group stage.

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• Cameroon snub the latest blow in torrid 2025-26 season for Onana

  Having been expected to be named in Cameroon’s squad, the snub represents the latest blow in what has been a dreadful season for Onana. Losing his place in the United XI to Altay Bayindir for the first three Premier League games of the season following a hamstring injury sustained in pre-season, the former Inter shot-stopper made two mistakes as the club were beaten 12-11 on penalties by League Two minnows Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup on 27 August.

  Onana, who has earned 53 caps for Cameroon, was then allowed to leave United for Super Lig side Trabzonspor in early September, following the arrival of Senne Lammens from Belgian outfit Royal Antwerp. The 23-year-old has been a revelation since moving to the Red Devils, firmly establishing himself as the club’s new No. 1 ahead of Bayindir.

Unai Emery hailed Morgan Rogers’ match-winning brace in Aston Villa’s 2-1 comeback win over Leeds – but warned the forward that his brilliance stemmed from being “hungry and angry” to deliver more goals. After a difficult start to the season, the England international erupted with a stunning performance that left his manager demanding even higher standards.

Rogers bags spectacular brace in Aston Villa's Leeds win

Aston Villa secured their sixth win in seven league matches as Rogers delivered a sensational brace to overturn an early Leeds lead at Elland Road. The 23-year-old equalised with an inventive near-post flick before stepping up again after the break to bury a superb free-kick, echoing Emi Buendia’s memorable strike against Bournemouth. His goals arrived at a crucial moment for a player who has been under scrutiny after a slow start to the 2025/26 season.

Rogers had entered the campaign facing heightened expectations following last year’s breakout, but his form initially dipped as Aston Villa adjusted tactically and opposition sides paid closer attention to him. His brace against Leeds, though, represented a decisive resurgence, reaffirming his importance to Emery’s system.

The Elland Road display came on the back of a confidence-boosting equaliser against Tottenham last month, suggesting Rogers is beginning to recover the sharpness that defined his 27-goal contributions last year. With Villa aiming for greater consistency in attack, the return of Rogers’ decisiveness could not have been better timed. His performance ensured Villa departed Leeds with momentum and renewed optimism.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportEmery wants Rogers to remain 'angry'

“Through numbers it is more brilliant and really relevant, his work today,” Emery said when speaking to reporters about Morgan. “His impact was positive with goals. Always he plays well. He does his task and he is versatile across different positions.

“Maybe today he showed that he is angry to score. Being angry, he scored two goals, focusing on how he could get numbers. He did it, helping the team and for our victory today. He is a player who can get numbers. Last year he got double numbers for goals and assists. This year I think he will get this again.

“He was playing fantastic before this match, not getting numbers, but helping the team. With those goals today, it’s more brilliant. I think Morgan is very important when he is scoring and when he is not scoring. He is working tactically, being versatile, and performing very consistently.”

Asked what he meant by angry, Emery said: “Hungry and angry to score. Both. It is in this direction.”

Emery opens up on Aston Villa's resurgence after poor start

Emery continued on to talk about Aston Villa's overall performance: “Overall, I am happy with the team. Through our structure, tactically, we were disciplined and organised. We played with personality. Each player felt comfortable in their best position and getting confidence.”

“There is still some work to do for some players, but how we are progressively getting better is really something I am proud of. I am very demanding in our way because now we are better in the table.”

“My message is the same. We are not contenders for the top six or top four. We fought fantastic to be there or competing for those positions. Now we want to do the same.”

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Getty/GOALAston Villa finally picking up form ahead of festive period

Rogers’ brace sets up a pivotal stretch in which Villa will look to maintain their form heading into a tightly packed December schedule. First off, they will face off against Young Boys on Thursday, November 27. They will then face off against Wolves and Brighton before a crucial test against Arsenal at Villa Park.

For Rogers, the challenge now is to turn a brilliant afternoon in Leeds into a sustained run of form after a testing start to the campaign. His underlying numbers have suggested a player close to finding rhythm, and the brace may prove the catalyst for an extended resurgence.

The Pakistan batter was arrested on suspicion of rape by the Greater Manchester Police in the UK last month

Danyal Rasool04-Sep-2025The investigation into Pakistan cricketer Haider Ali, who was arrested on suspicion of rape by the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in the UK last month, has been closed, with all charges against the player dropped. Haider, who had been released on bail following his arrest, is now free to leave the UK.”We always take allegations of this nature very seriously and will assess each incident thoroughly,” the GMP told ESPNcricinfo. “Following a comprehensive review of all available evidence, the investigation has been closed at this time. Should any further information come to light, we would review the material and case again appropriately.”Related

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Haider Ali arrested and granted bail after report of alleged rape

Haider, 24, was part of a tour by the Shaheens – effectively a Pakistan A side – to the UK, playing matches against a select XI in Beckenham and Hove. During a game on August 3, GMP officers arrived at the ground in Beckenham, where Haider was arrested during the game. According to a GMP statement at the time, the alleged offence leading to the arrest had occurred in Manchester on July 23, the day after the Shaheens’ first tour game, which Haider played. Haider was bailed at the time and the alleged victim was being “supported by officers”.The PCB confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that charges against Haider had been dropped. At the time of his arrest, the PCB had put out a statement saying it “reserve[d] the right to take appropriate action under its Code of Conduct, if necessary”.ESPNcricinfo understands a decision on whether to take action against Haider has not been made yet, with the PCB waiting on the player to return to Pakistan before it takes a decision.Haider has played two ODIs and 35 T20Is for Pakistan. Initially feted as a destructive hitter, he burnished his reputation with standout performances in the PSL with Peshawar Zalmi in 2020, when he scored 239 runs at a strike rate of 157.23. He was called up to the national side later that year, his international debut coming in a T20I game in Manchester, where he scored a 33-ball 54 as Pakistan won by five runs.Inconsistency has dogged him since, and he has repeatedly found himself in and out of the Pakistan side. However, his talent and explosiveness have kept him in international contention, and the current Shaheens tour was widely viewed as an opportunity to reintegrate a player whose batting approach aligns with the aggressive style Pakistan’s current T20 set-up has made no secret it wants to pursue.