Cricket News: Three things Pakistan and England should check before starting the World Cup

Pakistan is coming from humiliating back-to-back defeats from Sri Lanka to lose the Asia Cup. Though England couldn't win the T20I series against South Africa, they will be coming with their head held high after winning the test series against the Proteas.

The 7-match series gives a chance to both the team to experiment and test their bench strength one last time before the World Cup starts next month in Australia.

"Not fully ready to go for T20 World Cup. So, it's important for us to get players where they want to be and familiarise them with some roles," said England Skipper Jos Buttler. 

Here are three things both Pakistan and England would check in this series.

England's opening dilemma

After Jonny Bairstow got ruled out of the T20 World Cup, England has to solve one of their most serious problems: who will open alongside skipper Jos Buttler in the World Cup. The strongest contender for the spot, Alex Hales, will be given a chance in the 7-games opening with Jos Buttler for this series and World Cup.

England Skipper Jos Buttler said, "Alex Hales is back in our squad. We know what a fantastic and incredibly destructive player he is at the top of the order. I am sure Pakistani fans have seen him in the PSL perform brilliantly, and he is also looking forward to playing here."

The problem of middle order batting of Pakistan

The most prominent problem with Pakistan throughout the Asia Cup was their middle order. Fakhar Zaman's 96 runs in 6 innings in Asia Cup is pretty bad for the middle-order batter for Pakistan, the bulk of which came from a half-century against Hong Kong. The consistent failure of Fakhar Zaman put everything on Mohammad Rizwan. Pakistan, this series has excluded Fakhar Zaman and will try to test how their middle order performs without a star player.

Shoaib Akhtar slammed Pakistan's batting depth by saying, "With this team, we might get knocked out in the first round itself. I am scared as our batting has no depth. "

More experience for young Pacers

Pakistan and England have recently got their young pacers, who are becoming a primary reason for their victories. Naseem Shah for Pakistan and Reece Topley for England have been part of this tour, and the team will test their young guns extensively before they move to a faster pitch in Australia for the World Cup.