England won't take risks with Buttler before T20 World Cup

LONDON: England's limited-overs coach Matthew Mott said Jos Buttler is itching to make his return from injury during their seven-match series in Pakistan but they will not take any risks with the batsman so close to the Twenty20 World Cup. Buttler has not played in the series so far as he recovers from a calf injury he sustained while playing in The Hundred, with the team being led by Moeen Ali.

The World Cup takes place in Australia from Oct. 16-Nov. 13. "With regard to Jos (Buttler), he's still a while off, he's not a player we want to take a risk on at this stage, so close to the World Cup, and it was a reasonably significant injury that he had," Mott told reporters.

"So, he's champing at the bit for a game, but we'll just try and see how we go and maybe in the last game or two we might give him a chance." The series is level at 2-2 with the fifth game scheduled for Lahore on Wednesday.