England and Pakistan will lock horns in a historic three-match Test series starting 1st December in Rawalpindi. Ahead of the 20-20 World Cup, England had toured Pakistan for seven T20Is and the three-Test series will be the English team’s first tour of the country in 17 years. Ahead of the series, Pakistan captain Babar Azam revealed that his role model is former South African captain AB De Villiers.
“My role model is AB de Villiers. I love him. The way he has played, the way he played his shots. I saw him on the TV and the very next day, I tried his shots in the nets. I tried to copy AB de Villiers, tried to look and play like him. He is my idol,” Babar said in the interview posted on Pakistan Cricket’s official YouTube channel.
De Villiers represented South Africa between 2004-2018 and etched his name in the history books as one of the most destructive batters in world cricket. Fondly known as ‘Mr. 360’ due to his incredible ability to send the ball to all parts of the ground, the former South African batter ended both – his Test and ODI careers with a 50+ average.
England players fall ill ahead of the first Test
Meanwhile, 14 members of England’s touring team have fallen ill due to a virus ahead of the first Test. It is unknown what kind of virus it is. Among the sick players is their captain Ben Stokes. Thirteen others have also fallen sick as the virus has hit hard the England Test camp.
There is no update yet on the fate of the first Test. With just two days remaining for the Test match and 14 players down with sickness, it will be impossible for the visiting side to field an 11. There has been no release from either England Cricket or Pakistan Cricket Board either on the matter.
The two teams will be playing a three-match Test series that starts in Rawalpindi on December 1 while the second Test will be played in Multan (December 9-13) and the third will be in Karachi (December 17-21).
