As Pakistan touched down on Indian soil for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, ending a seven-year absence, they received a warm and enthusiastic reception at Hyderabad Airport. Fan expectations for the national team were a mix of hope and skepticism.
Many believed in the prowess of Babar Azam and his men, hoping for a triumphant journey and a chance to claim the prized silverware. However, some harbored doubts following Pakistan’s underwhelming performance in the Asia Cup. Additionally, a portion of the fanbase lamented the exclusion of their favorite players from the main squad.
In this series of articles, we will embark on a comprehensive exploration of Pakistan’s squad composition for the World Cup, conducting an in-depth statistical analysis of each constituent part comprising the 15-man contingent. This particular article will delve into Pakistan’s opening options for the tournament.
Opening Options for Pakistan:
1. Fakhar Zaman
Fakhar Zaman has been a fixture in Pakistan’s ODI opening lineup for six and a half years, boasting an impressive average of 45 and a strike rate of 92. While these numbers would typically label a player as a strength in any team, the case for Pakistan presents a different picture.
After a record-breaking three centuries against New Zealand, Zaman’s form took a downturn, accumulating only 190 runs in the last 10 games with an average of 21.11 and a dismal strike rate of 68. This decline has raised concerns within the Pakistani camp and among ex-cricketers.
Fakhar is however often backed as a big stage player. Unfortunately, it’s time to address a stark reality. Since his spectacular debut in the 2017 Champions Trophy, where he scored a match-winning century in the final and amassed 252 runs as the opener at an average of 63 and a strike rate of 113, Zaman has failed to deliver in significant ODI tournaments. His statistics across ODI tournaments since then make for grim reading: 307 runs in 18 games as the opener, averaging 17.06 with a strike rate of just 71.
As Pakistan enters the World Cup, Fakhar Zaman’s diminishing returns, both recently and in major ODI tournaments since the 2017 Champions Trophy, suggest that he may be a weak link in the Pakistani lineup as the opener. Time will tell whether the six-year investment in him pays off on the grandest stage of all.
2. Imam ul Haq
Gone are the days of “parchi” chants. Imam ul Haq stands as one of Pakistan’s key batsmen heading into the World Cup. Partnering with Fakhar as the opener for the past six years, Imam has amassed around 3000 runs during this period, averaging over 50 in ODIs.
Unlike Fakhar, Imam’s recent form provides reassurance for Pakistan, with an average of 41 in 11 games this year, including five half-centuries as the opener. While his strike rate of 78 may raise some eyebrows, it’s essential to consider that Pakistan has played on slow and challenging tracks during this time.
Imam has also proven himself in major ODI events as the opener, boasting an average of 42 in 15 innings. Although his strike rate of 75 might be slightly below ideal for an opener, Pakistan is banking on him to provide stability and consistency at the top of the order, enabling the middle and lower-order batsmen to capitalize on a stable foundation.
3. Abdullah Shafique
Abdullah Shafique, a stalwart in Pakistan’s red-ball setup, is relatively inexperienced in the ODI format, with just two ODIs (4 in total) and five List-A games (8 in total ) in the opener role. However, following Fakhar Zaman’s recent struggles, Shafique stepped up during the Asia Cup, delivering a composed and textbook fifty against Sri Lanka in a crucial encounter as the opener. His solid technique and ability to build long innings, a skill he has repeatedly showcased in Test cricket, make him a wildcard within the Pakistani 15-man squad.
Should Fakhar Zaman continue to struggle, don’t be surprised if Abdullah Shafique takes up the opener role and treats fans to his elegant strokeplay.
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