LONDON, May 27, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Jos Buttler has left the England squad ahead 
of Tuesday's Twenty20 international against Pakistan to be with his wife, who 
is about to give birth to the couple's third child.

The 33-year-old England captain struck a match-winning 84 as the hosts took a 
1-0 lead in the rain-affected four-game series in Birmingham on Saturday.

But he is now set to miss Wednesday's third T20 in Cardiff, with vice-captain 
Moeen Ali in line to lead England at Sophia Gardens instead.

This series, which concludes at The Oval in London on Thursday, is serving as 
a warm-up for the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the United States, with 
reigning champions England starting their title defence against Scotland in 
Barbados on June 4.

England fast bowler Jofra Archer could be rested for the Cardiff match ahead 
of the Oval finale.

Archer has been beset by elbow injuries since his starring role in helping 
England win the 50-over World Cup in 2019.

But the 29-year-old marked his long-awaited return to international cricket 
by taking two wickets as England beat Pakistan by 23 runs at Edgbaston 
following a washout at Leeds.
 
Archer, on his first international appearance for 14 months, and first on 
home soil since 2020, bounced back from an expensive first over, which went 
for 15 runs, to finish with 2-28.