England’s T20 World Cup team announced: Jofra Archer returns to 15-member squad

England's 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup squad has been named with Jofra Archer returning to the side after being sidelined for over a year.The World Cup gets underway in the West Indies and the United States of America in June and England will be hoping to defend their title, having won the previous edition in Australia in 2022.

Archer, who has been struggling with injury issues in recent times last played for England in March 2023 during the Bangladesh tour and has been missing in action since then. Archer's return will provide a massive boost to England's chances, and will be aided by Chris Jordan.

The Surrey bowler had also been pushed to the periphery of the squad after being slogged around for plenty in the 2021 T20 World Cup semifinal against New Zealand.

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Jos Buttler will lead the English contingent once again as Will Jacks, Phil Salt and Jonny Bairstow will comprise the top-order alongside him. Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran have been slotted in the middle and lower middle-order whileAdil Rashid will lead the spin attack flanked by Tom Hartley.

England vs Pakistan series

The England men's selection panel said the preliminary WC squad announced will also take on Pakistan in the four-match T20 series that gets underway next month in Leeds.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed that owing to the Pakistan series, none of the English players, currently plying their trade in the Indian Premier League (IPL), will be available for the playoffs.

The World Cup squad will fly to the Caribbean on May 31 ahead of England’s opening group match against Scotland at the Kensington Oval, Barbados, on June 4.

Notably, according to ICC guidelines, all teams are allowed to make changes to their squad until May 25, after whichany alteration will require approval from ICC's Event Technical Committee.

England squad:

Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonathan Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, Mark Wood

(With inputs from agencies)