Pakistan's Cricket World Cup Squad Preview

Pakistan would look to replicate their performance in the Champions Trophy 2017 and lift their 2nd World Cup

World T20 win in 2009 and the Champions Trophy win in 2017, both happened in England. Pakistan seems to have a love affair for ICC tournaments when they play in England. The upcoming 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup is hosted by England and Pakistan would love to continue their dominance in England when they play ICC tournaments. Two years ago when they beat India in the finals of the Champions Trophy it was a Fakhar Zaman century and a brutal Mohammed Amir spell that brought them the trophy. They had reached the finals because of an extraordinary bowling display throughout the tournament. Their batting was not the greatest but, it was good enough to win them the Champions Trophy. However, the situation is different now. It is their pace bowling attack which is struggling and their not so impressive batting clicking right before the World Cup. 

Their top 3 batsmen - Imam ul Haq, Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam have been in supreme touch and at least one of these batsmen manage to score a century every match they play. The onus will be on them to continue the good form and allow Pakistan to set as well as chase high totals. The Pakistan captain, Sarfaraz Ahmed has opted for experience in the middle order with the likes of himself, Mohammed Hafeez and Shoaib Malik. Most probably skipper Sarfaraz will bat at 4 and Shoaib at 5 with power-hitting Asif Ali at number 6. Pakistan has clearly lacked a power hitter like Asif Ali in the middle order. In the captain’s conference when Sarfaraz was asked if he wanted any player from any other team, he wished to have Jos Buttler in his team, suggesting that he knows his team lacks firepower in the middle order. 

In the bowling department at number 7 and 8, Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan will feature. They are the 2 main spinners for Pakistan and will play a crucial role in the middle overs with the ball and in the slog overs with the bat. 
Pakistan has 5 pace bowling options at their disposal and 3 spots to fill. They have recalled veteran Wahab Riaz and Mohammed Amir suggesting that they would want plenty of experience and youth mixed up in the bowling lineup. Young sensations like Shaheen Afridi and Mohammed Hasnain are also a part of the squad but they might just serve as backups. I expect Hassan Ali, Mohammed Amir and Wahab Riaz to fill up the 3 bowling options and if these  3 are able to replicate what they did in the Champions Trophy 2017, then they will have great chances of making it to the semi-finals.


Probable playing xi -

Fakhar Zaman, Imam ul Haq, Babar Azam, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hassan Ali, Mohammed Amir, Wahab Riaz


Interesting facts about the Pakistani Cricket Team - 

• Sarfaraz Ahmed, the Pakistani skipper and wicketkeeper holds the record for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in 1 World Cup match (6 dismissals in the 2015 World Cup)

• Pakistan holds the record for most extra’s ever given away by the bowlers in a World Cup match (59 extra against Scotland in 1999)

My prediction - 

• Pakistan have a strong batting lineup but their bowling just doesn’t seem to click. With such poor bowling Pakistan will end up finishing in the middle of the Points Table. However, if their bowling starts to click they will be a force to reckon with and will have high chances of making it into the semi-finals.