International T20 cricket returns to Sophia Gardens on Tuesday after a long absence.

England haven’t played a T20 match at Glamorgan’s home ground since the 24^th of June 2021, a five wicket win by DLS method against Sri Lanka.

On Tuesday they host Pakistan in the third match of four as preparation for the imminent T20 World Cup hosted by the USA and West Indies.

The first game of the series against Pakistan was abandoned on Wednesday due to bad weather, with the second set to take place at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Saturday.

That will be the first time the two teams meet in a T20 since they met in the World Cup final in Australia 2022, when England ran out winners by 5 wickets, thanks in part to a brilliant unbeaten 52 by test captain Ben Stokes.

Stokes will not be part of England’s squad this time round however, having opted out of joining his side in their T20 defence in a bid to recover from knee surgery.

11 of the 15 who were initially selected in England’s squad two years ago have been picked in head coach Matthew Mott’s preliminary squad for the West Indies, including Jonny Bairstow and Reece Topley who withdrew from the squad to Australia due to injury.

One of the headline new faces is bowler Jofra Archer who returns to England colours having not represented them at home in nearly four years.

A stress fracture in his right elbow and lower back have been persistent injury setbacks for the fast bowler who will play in the country of his birth should he be selected for England’s opener of the World Cup against Scotland in Barbados.

Archer was a crucial part of England’s attack for their 2019 One Day World Cup win but has yet to appear at a T20 World Cup.

The other T20 World Cup debutants are Ben Duckett, Will Jacks and left-arm spinner Tom Hartley.

Duckett made his T20 debut against Pakistan in 2019 during Archer’s first game, Jacks made his against the same opposition in September 2022, while Hartley is yet to play for England’s twenty over side.

Jacks, Bairstow and captain Jos Buttler have all made centuries at this year’s Indian Premier League and will hope to continue that form into the World Cup.

England begin their World Cup campaign against Scotland on the 4^th of June before facing Australia, Oman and Namibia in the initial group stages before the super eights.

DragonBet has England at third favourites for the tournament behind India and Australia and are also backing them to beat Pakistan on Saturday at 4/9 on.