Touring Pakistan after more than 15 years, England couldn’t have asked for a better trip especially with the current crop of cricketers playing international cricket in this country for the first time.
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Defeating Pakistan 4-3 in the first-ever seven-match T20I bilateral series between Test playing nations before ICC T20 World Cup 2022, England returned from their tour of Australia to whitewash Pakistan 3-0 in Tests – becoming the first-ever team to do so in Pakistan.
While there could not have been a better end to the year for English cricketers, they (those not playing in various T20 leagues) have earned a well-deserved break from the sport before touring South Africa next month.
Sarfaraz Ahmed congratulates Ben Duckett as England whitewash Pakistan 3-0
Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed was among the many high-profile personalities which congratulated England on a historic series victory in Karachi today. An achievement worthy of adulation for the whole team, Ahmed praised England opening batter Ben Duckett in particular.
Returning to the format after more than six years, Duckett made the most of getting an opportunity to open the innings alongside Zac Crawley. Second-highest run-scorer in a three-match series, Duckett hit the winning runs in the third Test on Tuesday to complete his series tally of 357 runs at an average and strike rate of 71.40 and 95.71 respectively with the help of a century and three half-centuries.
Having set the tone form the first day of the series, Duckett justified both England’s all-attack approach and his position at the top of the order on the back of crossing the 50-run mark in four out of six innings. Highest strike rate among batters with more than 100 runs in the series was much more than just icing on the cake.
Ahmed, whose fans are demanding his international comeback especially after current vice-captain and wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan’s lean patch, congratulated Duckett because the two had represented Quetta Gladiators in Pakistan Super League 2022. In what was the Englishman’s second PSL season (after a five-year gap), Duckett had played four PSL matches under Ahmed earlier this year.
