Pakistan has consistently showcased its power in the T20 World Cup arena, spectacularly winning the title in 2009 and securing runner-up positions in two editions. The team has often been hailed as a formidable force with an impressive track record of three semi-final appearances.
However, amidst these wins, the 2016 campaign stands out as a stark contrast. Struggling to find their rhythm, Pakistan endured a challenging journey, securing victory in just one match during the Super 10s stage.In this article we will discuss the Pakistan T20I squad preview, strengths, and weaknesses in detail.
History of the previous T20i World Cup 2022
After losing to India and Zimbabwe, Pakistan was on the verge of being knocked out of the tournament. Still, Pakistan managed to play the final after beating South Africa, Netherlands, and Bangladesh. Pakistan was runner-up in the final. England won the 2022 World Cup after an intense battle at the Melbourne Stadium.
Pakistan T20 World Cup Squad:
Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan
Schedule:
| Date | Match | Time (PST) | Venue |
| June 6, Thursday | Pakistan vs USA | 8:30 PM | Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas |
| June 9, Sunday | India vs Pakistan | 7:30 PM | Citi Field, New York |
| June 11, Tuesday | Pakistan vs Canada | 7:30 PM | Citi Field, New York |
| June 16, Sunday | Pakistan vs Ireland | 7:30 PM | Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill |
Strengths:
Strong Top Order
Pakistan’s top order is locked Captain Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan, and Saim Ayub. Pakistan will heavily rely on Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan. Saim Ayub can be the X-Factor because of his aggressive batting in power-play.
Variability in Bowling Lineup:
Pakistan will have an edge because of the bowling option. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris, Nassem, Abbass Afridi, and Muhammad Amir who recently reversed his retirement decision, and Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Abrar Ahmed, and Iftikhar Ahmed in a spin. Babar Azam can also try Saim Ayub in power-play, Saim was brilliant in the bowl in PSL 9 for Peshawar.
CPL Experience
Pakistan can utilize the Cpl experience of Azam Khan, Muhammad Amir, Imad Wasim, and young star Saim Ayub. They have played in these conditions and can help Pakistan lift their second title.
Read: England’s T20i World Cup Preview: Team Analysis, strengths & weaknesses, Key Players and Schedule
Weaknesses:
Fielding Wowes
Pakistan has always struggled in the fielding department. This a sign of worry as in t20 cricket fielding is the most important part of the game.If you leak too many runs in misfield and have dropped crucial catches you have thrown the game.
Too much Dependancy on Top-Order
| Batter | Matches | Runs | Avg | SR |
| Babar Azam | 14 | 502 | 40.61 | 141.41 |
| Muhammad Rizwan | 12 | 383 | 54.71 | 133.91 |
| Fakhar Zaman | 11 | 372 | 37.30 | 160.08 |
| Saim Ayub | 13 | 163 | 13.58 | 131,45 |
| Iftikhar Ahmed | 14 | 140 | 15.55 | 118.64 |
| Azam khan | 7 | 81 | 16.20 | 172.34 |
| Shadab Khan | 7 | 66 | 16.50 | 173.68 |
| Usman Khan | 5 | 59 | 14.75 | 122.91 |
Lack of Preparations:
Pakistan’s team will not play warmup matches before the World Cup as they were playing a four-match t20 series with England. Two of the four got washout, and Pakistan only played the second match in which England was victorious. It will be a difficult task for the team management to make the perfect combination before the World Cup with less preparations and no warm-up
Key Player:
Babar Azam
Captain Babar Azam will be a key player for the Green Shirts, he is their leading run-scorer in 2024. Babar Azam scored 300+ runs in the 2021 edition but couldn’t perform in the 2022 edition. This year this is his best chance to prove his worth in the tournament.
Shaheen Shah Afridi:
The Eagle will be leading the pace attack. Shaheen will be a key player for the Pakistan team in the power play and death bowling. Pakistan can also utilize his six-hitting ability in the lower-order position
Azam Khan;
Azam can be a key player for Pakistan in the Caribbean leg as he has CPL experience and we cannot doubt his hard-hitting he can guide Pakistan to win their second title after more than a decade of their win in 2009 under Younous Khan’s captaincy.
What to expect from the Pakistan T20I Squad?
If the Pakistan team can utilize the resources properly and all players play a key role in winning matches. Pakistan can Surprise everyone and can win the title in the iconic Barbados stadium. Pakistan previously played the semi-final and final in the previous two editions.
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