Pakistan will begin the Twenty20 series against England on a six-match winning run in the sprint format, but aware they are in for a severe test.
Pakistan, led by veteran big-hitter Shahid Afridi, have risen to
second in the International Cricket Council global Twenty20 rankings -
while England are a lowly eighth.
The table is notoriously volatile, however, in a format played
so infrequently between global tournaments - and Afridi is not about to
dismiss the challenge posed by England.
Eoin Morgan's tourists have won their last three Twenty20
matches - at home to India, New Zealand and Australia - latterly in the
past summer with a white-ball team full of much previously untested
talent, following their embarrassing early exit from the 50-over World
Cup last winter.
They also beat the Kiwis in a thrilling one-day international
series, narrowly lost to Australia and then recovered from a trouncing
in the first match against Pakistan here to run out 3-1 victors last
week.
Afridi said: "You can't under-estimate any team in this format.
"Whatever matches we have played, even against Zimbabwe, they were very tough.
"England, no doubt, are a world-class team. And they came back well (after Test series defeat) to win the ODIs."
Pakistan's success against Zimbabwe has contributed to their
fine recent record, one of which Afridi is proud - albeit in the
knowledge more fine-tuning is needed.
"We have won the last six games.
"We did make small mistakes, but we are going through a process and are trying some new players."
The hosts are expected to give a belated debut to opener
Rafatullah Mohmand, at 39 four years older than Afridi - who began his
international career as a teenager in 1996, an era which long pre-dated
even the concept of Twenty20 cricket.
Much more recently, he came up against England record-breaker Jos Buttler in last summer's NatWest Blast Twenty20 final.
Afridi took three for 14 with his leg-breaks for
Northamptonshire at Edgbaston three months ago, but it was Buttler's
Lancashire who prevailed.
Afridi, and the rest of the world, had a gloriously entertaining
reminder of the wicketkeeper-batsman's talent when he hit England's
fastest ever century from just 46 balls against Pakistan in the fourth
ODI in Dubai last week.
Afridi could hardly help but be impressed all over again.
"He is one of the best cricketers (in the world) at the moment," he said.
"He played well against me in the (NatWest T20 Blast) final, and he is a great player.
"(But) we will bowl well at him."
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