The first T20I match between Pakistan and England has been called off due to bad weather and continued rains.

Unfortunately, the Yorkshire weather appears to have other plans.

Pakistan and England teams were all set to lock horns in the first T20I at Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds, a crucial series ahead of the ICC T20I World Cup 2024.

Ready to go - come rain or shine 💪 pic.twitter.com/jE1Zhgc0Wi
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) May 22, 2024

Gary Kirsten joined the national men’s side in Leeds on 19 May to commence his two-year tenure as the white-ball head coach, the Pakistan Cricket Board said.

The series will be followed by the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the United States and Caribbean, with Pakistan taking on the hosts in its opener in Dallas on 6 June.

Series opener! 🏏

🇵🇰 Pakistan 🆚 England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
🗓️ Wednesday, 22 May 2024
⏰ 10:30 PM PKT
🏟️ Headingley, Leeds#ENGvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/yOcFRNePlE
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) May 22, 2024

The 56-year-old South African was confirmed as the white-ball head coach along with Jason Gillespie as red-ball head coach last month. The Australian will arrive in Pakistan in July for August’s ICC World Test Championship fixtures against Bangladesh to start his journey.

Apart from next month’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 and other bilateral white-ball series, Kirsten will be the head coach for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, and the ACC T20 Asia Cup 2025.

Pak vs Eng T20I past matches record

In recent encounters, the cricket rivalry between England and Pakistan was fiercely competitive, with England holding a slight edge in their last five matches.

On November 13, 2022, England emerged victorious by 5 wickets, completing the chase with an over to spare. This win marked their third consecutive triumph over Pakistan, showcasing their consistent performance and strategic prowess.

On October 2, 2022, England secured a convincing 67-run victory, displaying their batting and bowling dominance.

On September 30, 2022, they won by 8 wickets, wrapping up the match with 33 balls remaining, underscoring their efficiency and strong game plan.

The series wasn't entirely one-sided. Pakistan demonstrated their competitive spirit with two closely contested wins.

On September 28, 2022, Pakistan managed to clinch a narrow victory by 6 runs, highlighting their ability to defend a modest total under pressure. A few days before, on September 25, 2022, they won another nail-biter by just 3 runs.

These victories reflect Pakistan's resilience and their capacity to challenge a strong team like England.

Overall, while England has dominated the recent head-to-head clashes, Pakistan's wins indicate that they remain a formidable opponent capable of turning the tables in tightly contested matches.