ICC Champions Trophy 2017 semifinals: England vs Pakistan team news and confirmed playing XI

Jason Roy's time at the top of the order in this ICC Champions Trophy has run out, with Jonny Bairstow expected to take the opener's place in England's semifinal against Pakistan on Wednesday in Cardiff.

Roy came into this Champions Trophy looking out of sorts, having failed to get a proper score on the board in the series against South Africa.

Eoin Morgan, though, backed his opener, insisting Roy would get chances to get back into form and show that destructive nature of his at the top of the innings.

However, in the three Group A matches that England played, Roy could not find that range of his. His scores were 1, 13 and 4 – he has totalled a mere 52 runs in his last eight innings – and due to that Morgan's patience seems to have run out, especially considering there is a certain Bairstow waiting in the wings.

Bairstow impressed for England during a short series against Ireland prior to the start of the Champions Trophy, and while there were calls for his inclusion during the three-match rubber against South Africa, Morgan and Trevor Bayliss decided to back Roy instead.

Now, with Roy struggling and England in a knockout against Pakistan, it looks like Bairstow is going to get that chance, although this will be his first ever match opening the innings in ODI cricket, if indeed he does open.

"We're getting to the business end of the tournament and we need to produce results," Morgan said. "We need results and if that means somebody misses out, it's unfortunate. But for the team's sake we need to get results. We want to win this tournament."

Pakistan also now believe they can win this tournament after their tremendous comeback from the loss to India. Having seen off Sri Lanka in what was a virtual quarterfinal, Pakistan now know they are just two wins away from the CT 2017 title.

One change was made to the playing XI for the Sri Lanka game, with Fahim Ashraf, the fast bowling all-rounder, coming in for the leg-spinner Shadab Khan.

While Ashraf had a decent debut, picking up two wickets and showing what he can do in his brief stay with the bat, there is a case to bring Shadab back into the playing XI.

England are more likely to be troubled by spin than pace, and while those short straight boundaries in Cardiff is a worry, taking a chance with the leg-spinner could prove to be a masterstroke.

Confirmed playing XI:

England: Alex Hales, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (C), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett, Jake Ball, Mark Wood.

 

Pakistan: Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (C), Imad Wasim, Rumman Raees, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan.