Pakistan preview - ICC T20 World Cup 2022
SpeakingNick's preview of ICC ranked #3 Pakistan.
Pakistan
Pakistan has been boosted by the late inclusion of left-arm speedster Shaheen Shah Afridi, bolstering an already robust pace-bowling group. Afridi joins Harris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Hasnain shaping a slippery quartet that frames the engine room of the Pakistan team. Yes, there are high expectations for Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan at the top of the order, for Pakistan to be competitive though, they must first acknowledge the importance of their pace attack.
Pakistan’s batsmen, it seems like - and this is a holistic view — have continually enjoyed impunity when it comes to responsibility and accountability around their batting. Home umpires have reliably lent a hand here, tending to see proceedings through an altered prism, presumably while dreamily anticipating their evening meal. Rob Moody of @robelinda2 on Twitter captured some supporting evidence — you could say it’s a little more than circumstantial! Watch here.
Anyway, as is our want here, we try our best to avoid any undue controversy. It has to be said, though, that Pakistan will benefit from placing greater trust in their fast bowlers and be less reliant on Babar and Rizwan, and the opener’s supporting cast.
A sidenote …
It was indeed the Sultan of Swing, Wasim Akram, who bowled Pakistan to victory in the 1992 World Cup final. Described as a “delivery from the Gods”, England’s Allan Lamb was opened up like a can of sardines, losing his off bail to a ball which had a mind of its own - it shaped in toward Lamb, only to detour past his hopeful edge, meeting the top of off stump, bang on time. Enjoy it here.
Twenty years on, can Shaheen Shah Afridi emulate his idol? We shall see.
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Batting
Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has rejoined the Pakistan men’s team as a mentor for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 - and will be seeking to build on his initial work in the role. Presumably Hayden’s focus will centre on the team’s batting output; he has the stock to work with; of this there is no doubt, how he frames his messages will be at the centre of his thinking. Will he isolate Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, by pouring the majority of his focus into Pakistan’s prolific opening partnership. Or, will he look for lesser players with upside, knowing that the collective effort is more likely to succeed in Australian conditions.
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan will open the batting for Pakistan in the T20 World Cup. Really — are you 100% sure? I read that journalism is about breaking stories; there you have my contribution, which is exactly why I’m not a journo, or a budding one at best.
Sorry back to the writing. Neither Babar or Rizwan should be taken lightly, and both are wonderful players. Babar is currently the most aesthetically watchable batsman in world cricket, and for good measure, sits third in the ICC T20I rankings — with his partner-in-crime, Rizwan — taking the top spot. Rizwan averages 52 runs an innings in T20I’s, with a strike-rate of 128, from 72 games — impressive reading. Babar averages 44 with a strike-rate of 129, from 91 games. Equally impressive.
The support cast is exactly that. Or, that it is how it presents. There can be no doubt that Pakistan will need runs outside of Babar and Rizwan. Fakhar Zaman shapes as an interesting inclusion, the veteran left-hander suffered a knee injury in the final of last month's Asia Cup. Initially named as a traveling replacement, he now finds himself likely to play in the tournament opener, this Sunday, against India at the MCG. Shadab Khan will also offer Hayden some cause for optimism, as will Shan Masood and Haider Ali.
Hayden might be best served by first engaging the mind of fellow left-hander Fakhar Zaman. Personally, I see upside in the powerful south-paw; his best will off-set some of the more pedestrian players in the Pakistan batting group.
A sidenote …
Matthew Hayden chose to provoke some thought prior to his team’s last warm up game at the Gabba by presenting a throwing challenge to Mohammad Wasim and Naseem Shah — details are not important — his message, though, is. “It’s not about the power, it’s about the brain.” Yes, you’re not mistaken. One of Australia’s most unapologetic enforcers is preaching from the modern-day woke playbook! It goes like this, “Do as I say, not as I did.”
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Bowling
It feels like a final before the finale. Pakistan v India at the MCG — day two of the tournament, and the opening game for both countries — so much hinges on the result. Pakistan are undoubtably a momentum team. Where, as, India predictably subscribes to a self-conscious form of paranoia. A win will provide so much for both teams, will bowling be the key that unlocks the door?
As mentioned prior: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Hasnain look certain starters. Afridi will operate with the new ball, searching for pace and lateral swing, that is likely to trouble any batsman. Rauf stands out as the most versatile of the three; being able to bowl in the powerplay if needed, looking to break partnerships in the middle overs. And, he is a capable death bowler. Raw pace and unpredictability will be the domain of Mohammad Hasnain. Also factor in Naseem Shah — who is likely to start on the bench — and will have plenty to offer when required.
Spin options start with Shadab Khan, a strong right-arm legspinner, with an excellent wrong-un. Which he is not averse to showing off. His best match-ups will be right-hand batters; he combines an excellent strike rate, with a miserly economy rate. The sort of right-left combination coaches dream about.
Pakistan remains a cricket analysts' worst nightmare. Brimming with uncertainty, and precariousness, they linger in the shadows, and you’re never certain when they will step out. Sunday’s encounter with India should tell much more than I can attempt to predict here!
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood. Standby Players: Usman Qadir, Mohammad Haris, Shahnawaz Dahani.
That’s it for Pakistan. More to follow on the rest …
