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Pakistan’s blind cricket team have arrived in England to play a four-match one-day series against their English counterparts. The series is starting in Worcestershire today.

England will be looking to regain the Umar Rashid Memorial Trophy which Pakistan claimed with a 3-1 series win in summer 2002.

The hosts open the series today with confidence, having beaten the West Indies twice as well as winning in Sri Lanka and claiming blind cricket Ashes in 2004.

The clash is an important test for England in their build-up to this winter’s World Cup in Islamabad, Pakistan, as it will be the English side’s last competitive encounter before the tournament.

The matches will also be a gauge of England’s recent improvement in form and give them indications of what to expect in the World Cup.

England team’s manager Peter Sugg said: “We’ll have the privilege of pitting our wits against world champions over four-match series which will hopefully prepare the squad for the ultimate challenge of the World Cup.”

Following is the schedule of Pak-England series, starting today:

May 27: First match, Royal Grammar School, Worcester; May 28: Second match, Reddich Cricket Club, Reddich; May 30: Third match, New Road, Worcester; May 31: Fourth match, New Road, Worcester.

England squad: Heindrich Swanepoel (captain), Andy Dalby-Welsh, Matt Dean, Dan Field, Rory Field, Nathan Foy, Howard Greenhill, Joe Harrison, Hassan Khan, Sam Murray, Miles Northwood, Mark Pickup, Andy Powers, Bryn Reynolds, Keryn Seal, Luke Sugg and David Townley.

Source:The News