World Cup Teams Watch - Pakistan: An act of two aces that can prove to be consequential

When we talk about the continental giants who have graced the World Cup, despite the tournament not being a significantly successful one for them in terms of titles won, you can never write Pakistan off. However, they have already been dealt a blow ahead of their opening clash, with ace pacer Naseem Shah ruled out of the World Cup.

The Pakistani team has seen quite a handful of polarizing displays of late where the main challenge for the Men in Green has been to produce similar displays over a consistent period of time. In the recently concluded warm-ups, Pakistan suffered losses at the hands of New Zealand and Australia, which came on the back of defeats against India and Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup. At times they have been majestic on the field, particularly when Babar Azam has been in good touch while there have been occasions where they have completely switched off.

Keeping in mind somewhat similar surface conditions across the Indian subcontinent which geographically includes Pakistan as well, the Men in Green will be one of those reckoning sides who so far doesn’t really pose a title challenge but they will be coming down heavily upon the rest of the sides even if they can sniff a drop of blood on the waters.

Recent form:

Pakistan’s recent outings have been once again a handful of ebb and flow displays with the side showing tremendous promise at the start of the Asia Cup but then fizzled out in no time with defeats against India and Sri Lanka. Despite a sonorous batting display against Australia in their latest warm-up match where Babar Azam played a crucial knock of 90 while being laced with a significant display from Iftikhar Ahmed who smashed 83, their bowling unit still remains a question mark.

X-Factors:

Shaheen Afridi

In the absence of Naseem Shah, it is needless to say that the Falcon will be leading the Pakistani fast bowling battery. He is someone who loves to move the ball both ways and that threatening inswinger can prove to be a game-changer for Pakistan, particularly with the new ball in his hand and the kind of pace that he generates.

Babar Azam 

Babar Azam is obviously the brightest lodestar for the Pakistani batting unit. With knocks of 80 and 90 in his last two games against New Zealand and Australia respectively, Pakistan will love to believe that the wheels have been set in motion and if Babar is at the wheel, he will comfortably steer them to a position of promise.

Iftikhar Ahmed

Another batting stalwart of Pakistan, someone who exactly doesn’t bring the zing and bling but is very well capable of keeping things afloat and then when the time comes, he can go all guns blazing, propelling Pakistan to a massive score. The last three ODIs that he has been a part of have seen him scoring 47 against Sri Lanka, staying unbeaten for 7 against New Zealand and then capping off the warm-ups with a resonating 83 against Australia. He is someone who can be a game-changer if he is able to get rid of the initial blockade, which usually becomes the litmus test for any prolific striker of the ball.

Areas to work on:

With Naseem Shah out of the World Cup, Pakistan’s pace bowling unit will obviously be hoping for Shaheen Afridi to fire big time but knowing the sport, it is obvious that when one bowler, particularly a fast bowler is being asked to deliver too much, things have formerly gone haywire. Their engine room is also a spot of bother considering the fact that they have a fine top-order that is being manned by Babar Azam while what follows suit at number four, five and six can be something to watch out for considering the stark contrasts in recent times.

Squad for World Cup:

Babar Azam (C), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim