England are ‘more prepared’ for Pakistan in disability cricket series

The series between England and Pakistan will kick-off with two Twenty20 matches on Friday at the ICC’s Global Cricket Academy in Dubai Sports City and a third T20 will be played Saturday, writes Ahmed Rizvi.

Callum Flynn and the England disability cricket team will be looking for revenge when they meet Pakistan at the ICC’s Global Cricket Academy in Dubai Sports City during the next 10 days. Satish Kumar / The National
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DUBAI // Two years after losing to Pakistan in a groundbreaking series, the England disability cricket team will be looking for revenge when they meet again at the ICC’s Global Cricket Academy in Dubai Sports City during the next 10 days.

In the first disability cricket series sanctioned by two cricket boards, Pakistan returned home in 2012 having won the two Twenty20 matches and two of the three 50-over games.

Samuel Wyles was a member of the losing England team and, as the 23 year old returns to Dubai, he is hoping for a different result.

“The experience was obviously fantastic, but it would have been nice to get the result to go along with the experience,” Wyles said ahead of the start of the series. “So, fingers crossed this time. We have come back a better team and we are a lot more prepared this time.”

The series will kick-off with two Twenty20 matches on Friday, the first starting at 6.30am and the second at 2.30pm, and a third T20 will be played Saturday from 2.30pm. The three 50-over matches will take place on March 24, 27 and 29.

“We are looking forward to another competitive series,” said Ian Martin, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) head of Disability Cricket.

“In 2012, we fell short of where we wanted to be, but I think we have prepared really well.

“We’ve got some new players in the squad. The average age of the squad has come down. We’ve got some experienced cricketers that are better for the experience out here last time. So hopefully, this time we’ll make a better show of it.”

The three Twenty20 matches will be streamed live on ECB’s YouTube channel.

arizvi@thenational.ae

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