Pakistan is one of the most successful teams in World Cup T20 history. Pakistan reached the final of the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 under the captaincy of Shoaib Malik. Misbah and company fought until the bitter end in that nail-biting contest, but India defeated them when Sreesanth grabbed that catch at short fine leg in the final ball of the match.
After finishing as runners-up in 2007, they won the ICC World T20 in 2009, captained by Younus Khan. Pakistan also made the semi-finals of the 2010 and 2012 T20 World Cups, becoming the only team to do it in the first four editions of tournaments.
They were also the side to watch in the World Cup 2021. The Babar Azam-led Pakistan did what past generations could not do in the tournament’s first game, beating India in a World Cup game for the first time.
They thoroughly outperformed India in all three categories. And this was no fluke performance. In recent years, they have significantly succeeded in the game’s shortest format. They displayed a brave, aggressive batting strategy comparable to England’s. They have spent three to four years in the top three of the ICC T20 rankings.
Likely Squad/Team of Pakistan for T20 World Cup
Let’s look at the players who are most likely to be selected for Pakistan’s T20 World Cup team in 2022. The top order, particularly the openers, is always the backbone of their batting lineup.
Mohammad Rizwan, the young wicketkeeper batsman, will start the innings for captain Babar Azam. They were one of the most effective opening pairings in the last World Cup. And as per the ICC rankings, Babar and Rizwan are the world’s top two T20 batsmen.
Fakhar Zaman will be the third player on the Pakistan T20 team roster. He did not do well in the Super 12 group stage, but the team management stood behind him. In return, he scored a rapid half-century in the semi-finals, keeping them in position.
Pakistan’s middle-order is an ideal blend of youth and experience. It features veterans like Sohaib Malik and Asif Ali, as well as younger players like Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, and Azam Khan. Asif Ali is the team’s finisher, having scored two match-winning runs against New Zealand and Afghanistan in the previous World Cup.
Given Sarfaraz Ahmed’s removal from the team and the rise of Rizwan as the key wicketkeeper, Pakistan team management engaged in young Azam Khan as the squad’s backup wicketkeeper, who can also hit big shots.
Then there’s Pakistan’s bowling attack, which is as good as their batting lineup. The spin combo of Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim can take wickets in the middle overs and score runs in the lower middle-order if necessary.
The most significant aspect of this side is now their pace battery—the World Dangerous fast Bowling Attack. In Australian conditions, the fast bowling unit of Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, and Shaheen Shah Afridi will be their crucial weapon.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan’s left-arm fast bowler, is lethal with the new ball and may pick up two or more wickets in the powerplay to put Pakistan in a commanding position early in the game.
This bowling attack will be more lethal on the bouncy Adelaide Oval and Melbourne Cricket Ground wickets. Newcomers such as Mohammad Nawaz and Mohammad Wasim Jr. will also be considered for selection to the World Cup squad.
Probable Squad: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain) (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed/Azam Khan(wk), Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Khusdil Shah, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Muhammad Amir, Muhammad Haris, Shan Masood, Imam-ul-Haq.
