'It's great to be able to call on him' - Captain Jos Buttler's positive approach on English pacer's return to Cricket ahead of ICC T20 World Cup 2024

England skipper Jos Buttler is quite positive about the comeback of pacer Jofra Archer whose name was included in the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. Archer has been away from the game of cricket for a while due to the stress fracture. However, he has finally returned to cricket after playing a match against Sussex's second XI where he took a wicket in six overs.

"As a captain, he is someone you can always turn to in a game because he always has a trick up his sleeve. It's great to be able to call on him but it's important to manage expectations. He has been out of it for a while now so we will need to look after him and realise that it might just take him a little while to be the Jofra of 2019," said Buttler to the PA Media.

After missing England's championship-winning T20 World Cup campaign in 2022, Archer made his England debut on the tours of South Africa and Bangladesh in 2023. However, he was still on the road to recovery. Moreover, Archer has proved to be a potent combination of bounce and pace, and his impressive performance added credence to the idea that the seamer may finally be ready for some international action.

England to play Pakistan in 4-match T20I series before T20 World Cup 2024

Beginning on May 22, England will host Pakistan for a four-match T20I series. This series serves more as a practice match for the T20 World Cup 2024 for both countries. Before the game, Pakistan defeated Ireland 2-1 in a three-match T20I series played in Dublin. 

The Twenty20 International series will begin at Headingley on May 22 and go to Edgbaston on May 25, Cardiff on May 28, and the Oval on May 30. In addition, English players have withdrawn from the IPL 2024 to compete in the series. With the World Cup rapidly approaching, both nations will be hoping to play some excellent cricket over the series.