Pakistan v England T20 predictions & free cricket betting tips

Free cricket tips, best bets and analysis for Pakistan v England in Tuesday's first Twenty20 in Karachi.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Cricket, 3.30pm

Best bet

Pakistan to win T20 series
1pt 4-6 bet365, Hills

Mohammad Rizwan to score 28 or more runs in first T20
1pt 5-6 Coral, Ladbrokes

First T20 preview

England have not played in Pakistan since 2005 but an historic seven-game Twenty20 international series between the sides starts in Karachi on Tuesday.

England had been due to tour Pakistan last year only to pull out due to safety concerns but are now readying themselves for a long-awaited series which should help both sides in their preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia.

England in particular have plenty of work to do.

Since Jos Buttler replaced Eoin Morgan as the team's limited-overs captain back in June, England have had a tumultuous time of it.

They lost their first T20 series under Buttler 2-1 against India before falling to defeat by the same scoreline on home soil against South Africa in July.

England lost the last match of that series by 90 runs at the Rose Bowl and the team appear to be going backwards in the lead-up to the World Cup, which begins in October.

Buttler has been included in the squad for this series but will not be involved from the start as he nurses a calf injury with Moeen Ali leading the side.

The big news in the England camp is the return of Alex Hales, who joins the fold following a loss of form from Jason Roy and an injury sustained by Jonny Bairstow.

But even with the added firepower offered by Hales, England could struggle in Karachi and Lahore, and Pakistan look a good bet to win the series.

The Men in Green have been impressing on the biggest stages, having made the semi-finals of last year's T20 World Cup after winning all five of their games in the group stage.

And only this month, Pakistan looked in good shape at the Asia Cup, defeating rivals India in the Super Four phase on their way to the tournament's final.

They came up short against Sri Lanka in that final but their preparations are going well and a trip to Pakistan will be uncharted territory for most of this England squad, which features five debutants.

Babar Azam has long been Pakistan's main man, starring at last year's World Cup with 303 runs, but he struggled for consistency at the Asia Cup, managing only 68 runs in six matches.

His opening partner Mohammad Rizwan, meanwhile, was top scorer in that tournament, firing 281 runs, and is worth a bet to surpass his runs line of 27.5 in the series opener.

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