There is chaos surrounding the England and Wales Cricket Board currently, but that is nothing new to what the Pakistan Cricket Board has been embroiled in for decades now.
Pakistan, England facing similar challenges
Both teams will meet each other in a three-match Test series next month, and while no one knows for certain how much of the disorder will be handled by then, the former England player David Lloyd thinks both teams will pose an equal challenge to each other in the tour.
“Well, I think they’re two struggling teams, and I think it’s even-stevens, to be honest,” Lloyd said.
“You and I, and anybody else, can’t actually say what the England team will be. We don’t know who the captain will be. So, the politics that surround Pakistan cricket and the chaos that is around England cricket, I think evens them up.”
England’s form in Tests
England saw the turmoil come their way with a 2-1 series loss at home against New Zealand. This was an extension of their poor form, both home and away, as they lost eight of 13 Test games this World Test Championship cycle. The loss against New Zealand saw Ben Stokes retire and Brendon McCullum sacked.
This means that to face Pakistan, England will be coming up with a new blueprint with new leadership and management. This is why Lloyd believes Pakistan, who are currently the bottom-ranked team in this WTC cycle, have a decent chance against England.
“We said at the beginning of this New Zealand series that England had to win this. Well, they’ve lost 2-1. After being one up, they’ve lost 2-1. People will now be saying they have to beat Pakistan. Not so easy.”
“Pakistan should look at this and say, ‘Okay, we’ve got our problems, but so have they.”
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