Why is Eoin Morgan not playing today’s 2nd T20I between England and Pakistan at Headingley?

Eoin Morgan not playing: England have made as many as three changes to their Playing XI in a must-win match against Pakistan.

During the second T20I of the ongoing Pakistan’s tour of England in Leeds, Pakistan captain Babar Azam has won the toss and chose to bowl. Coming on the back of a victory in the first high-scoring T20I at Trent Bridge, another victory for the visitors will seal the series in their favour.

“Trying to carry on our momentum [from Nottingham], win the match and win the series,” Azam told Sky Sports Cricket at the toss. As far as their Playing XI is concerned, Pakistan haven’t tinkered with a winning combination.

Pakistan Playing XI for second T20I – 1) Mohammad Rizwan (wk) 2) Babar Azam (c) 3) Sohaib Maqsood 4) Fakhar Zaman 5) Mohammad Hafeez 6) Azam Khan 7) Imad Wasim 8) Shadab Khan 9) Shaheen Afridi 10) Haris Rauf 11) Mohammad Hasnain

Why is Eoin Morgan not playing Headingley T20I vs Pakistan?

England, on the other hand, have made three changes to try different combinations in preparation of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. The biggest change of them all is Jos Buttler leading the side in place of Eoin Morgan.

Having played a solitary white-ball match in this international summer, Buttler has returned from a calf injury to play not just as a vice-captain and wicket-keeper batsman but as the leader of the side.

Jos Buttler comes in the side & is captaining the side. Eoin Morgan has rested himself #ENGvsPAK

— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) July 18, 2021

“Looks another fantastic wicket some smallish boundaries so I expect another high-scoring game,” Buttler told Sky Sports Cricket at the toss.

In addition to Morgan, all-rounders Lewis Gregory and David Willey have been rested to accommodate the likes of pacer Chris Jordan and spinner Adil Rashid.

England Playing XI for second T20I – 1) Jason Roy 2) Jos Buttler (c & wk) 3) Dawid Malan 4) Moeen Ali 5) Liam Livingstone 6) Jonny Bairstow 7) Tom Curran 8) Chris Jordan 9) Adil Rashid 10) Saqib Mahmood 11) Matthew Parkinson

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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