Injured Buttler could miss the entire T20 series against Pakistan
All-rounder Moeen Ali will lead the squad for the four T20 games in Karachi
Cricket PassionEditor
Posted - 2022-09-16T17:09:04+06:00
Updated - 2022-09-16T17:09:04+06:00
Jos Buttler may be out of England's seven-game Twenty20 series against Pakistan in a bid to stay healthy ahead of the World Cup from next month.
On the advice of a doctor, Buttler, 32, said Thursday his calf injury would at most allow him to play in the last two games. He added that the historic nature of the tour and the opportunity to get to know England coach Matthew Mott better were the main reasons for his participation.
The England cricket team arrived in Karachi on Thursday for their first trip to Pakistan in 17 years, a long hiatus caused by security concerns.
England last played in Pakistan in 2005 and they were due to return last year before being abruptly canceled after New Zealand also postponed a tour due to security concerns.
Desperate to restore its safety reputation, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was outraged by the action, calling it "disrespectful".
Pakistan have been forced to play internationals in neutral venues such as the United Arab Emirates, where they hosted England for a series in 2012 and 2015. This was due to a deadly terrorist attack in Lahore in 2009 on the Sri Lankan team bus.
Speaking to the physios, it's an injury that's not serious, but one that has a risk of recurrence. They don't want to push it too soon, especially with what we have ahead of us," Buttler was quoted as saying.
“We have warm-up games in Australia (before the T20 World Cup) so there is no urgent need to get as fit as possible.
We just have to take it as it comes. If I were available for the last couple (of games) that would be the best case scenario at the moment. It might come sooner, maybe not at all, but the picture will become clearer in about a week," Buttler added.
"As a captain returning to Pakistan after a long absence, I felt that it mattered whether I played the games or not."