England Pacer Jofra Archer who has been out of competitive cricket for almost more than a year looks forward to playing in the upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in June.
Jofra Archer Targets on Men’s T20 World Cup
England’s managing director Rob Key has confirmed that Jofra Archer has argued to play in the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA. He hasn’t played for England for more than a year and is also an argument to be picked for the T20I series next month at home against Pakistan.
The 29-year-old has struggled with injuries for almost three years including his stress fractures. Since March 2021, the pacer has played only seven times for England and featured in only five IPL games for Mumbai Indians last season.
“Jofra has been out with Sussex in India for pre-season and bowled quickly out there, he bowled really well,” said Key.
“He has now gone back to the Caribbean where he’s going to play a bit of club cricket, all about getting himself ready for that T20 World Cup. He’ll hopefully play the Pakistan series, but it’s always fingers-crossed at the moment with Jofra.”
Despite his absence, the England team hopes for the return of Archer who travelled to India as a travelling reserve for the ODI World Cup in India. The ECB also handed him a two-year contract. But Rob Key’s doubts about rushing the fast bowler into the squad could probably cause some serious injury concerns.
“What we’re going to do is take it slower rather than trying to go too quickly so that we get him back for not just a short period but we get him for a long period,” he pointed out.
Rob Key has also confirmed that management has planned not to involve Archer in test cricket this year and will focus only on white-ball formats. But he will be set to feature in the test series against India in 2025.
“The whole plan with Jofra is he’s going to play white-ball cricket for this summer and going into the winter,” Key said. “Then hopefully next summer, when we play India and then onto the Ashes, we get him back for Test cricket. It’s a slow process to get him back for all forms.”
England will be playing in a four-match T20I series against Pakistan before playing in the ICC event in the USA and West Indies.
England will be playing their first Men’s T20 World Cup match against Scotland on June 04 at Kensington Oval Barbados.
