Can ‘mercurial’ Pakistan wake up on right side of the bed?

‘Mercurial’

Google defines it as an adjective that describes something which is subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind. 

In other words, Pakistan. 

Maybe that’s why after selection of a squad which is full of middle order hitters for the World Cup, Pakistan could only score 160 and 157 against England in England on pitches that would certainly be better for batting than the ones they’ll receive in the World Cup. Oh, did I tell you that it’s the same squad that has travelled with them for the World Cup?

Pakistan, in 2024, just like many T20 World Cups before them, are entering with a squad that has almost all the bases covered on paper. 

They have a left-arm spinner (Imad Wasim) that can drift the ball and make it extremely hard to hit him. They have three genuine top pacers of the world in Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf (who despite not being at his best is a perennial threat with his ability). Then in batting they have a good mix of anchors (Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan) and hitters (Azam Khan, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman). 

So what can stop them? Well, it is Pakistan itself. Shadab’s form with the ball, Azam’s with the bat, and the questions over Rauf’s efficacy post injury still remain. 

But can Pakistan repeat the spirited show of the 2022 T20 World Cup? Can they play true to their potential? Read the heading again and you’ll have an idea. 

What can win them the trophy?

Their four-man pace attack 

P for Pakistan. P for Pace. P for Power. 

Shaheen's new ball swing. Naseem's seam movement. Mohammad Amir’s wily accuracy and Rauf’s pace and back-of-a-length bowling. 

Combine with it the fact that Pakistan will play three group games on tracks in New York and Lauderhill with spongy and inconsistent bounce, and you can see why their pace attack will hold key to their success. 

Shaheen has been getting back to his form lately, and if he gets the new ball movement that has been so readily available in New York, he’ll trouble every single opening batter. Naseem’s seam position is certain to get him some movement, and on grounds where run scoring is tough, he and Shaheen would create serious trouble early on.

Pakistan are bolstered further by Amir's return after a good performance in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) where his bowling outside the powerplay turned heads as he was the main pacer of his side on flat pitches of Pakistan. 

If Babar Azam manages to keep Rauf out of the powerplay, and use his pacers well in bursts, then his job of winning games would become easier. However, as it is with all things in life, it is easier said than done. 

What can get them eliminated 

The dicey middle order

Azam Khan joined the World Cup squad on the back of being one of the best spin hitters going around the T20 circuit worldwide. He even improved his game against high pace as visible during the PSL this year. However, a proper snorter from Mark Wood in the England series opened him up like a can of worms. 

Shadab Khan is extremely good in the middle overs with the bat. He is a quick runner between the wickets and someone who can be used at number four. However, look at his career graph once and you’ll struggle to find a set of games where he has been consistent. 

The other batter, Iftikhar Ahmed, has reinvented himself as a finisher over the last few years, batting at quick strike rates from ball one and that’s going to be his role for Pakistan this World Cup as well. However, he can do that role to perfection only if he’s given that platform from the batters above him. 

These three hold the middle order for Pakistan and as of now, because of their run of form and lack of opportunity, remain the soft underbelly of Pakistan’s eleven that might take the field in Dallas. 

Things to watch out for

- Babar Azam’s anchoring would be needed on tough tracks

- Can Fakhar Zaman keep providing the fire to Pakistan’s batting 

- Is this Haris Rauf the same bowler we saw in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia?

Tactical MVP

Iftikhar Ahmed

A finisher (who’s actually a very good hitter of pace bowling) who also bowls accurate and hard-to-hit off spin? 

That’s a great option to have in your team when you are playing on tracks that will not be a road for batters to drive on wrecklessly. And Pakistan have that in Iftikhar. 

However, they haven't used his bowling effectively in the T20Is recently as they have Shadab, who is woefully out of form. Hence his overs along with Wasim’s, become immensely crucial for Pakistan. 

Probable first-choice XI: 

The main question in the eleven remains on Azam Khan, who’s poor keeping along with woeful batting in England can see him being kept out for Rizwan. Meanwhile, Pakistan can also try Abrar Ahmed depending on the conditions. However, for the first game against the USA at the Grand Prairie in Dallas, they might play both Azam and Shadab. 

Playing XI: Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Azam Khan (wk), Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf 

Note: Imad Wasim is out of their first encounter, so Abrar Ahmed might play in his spot.

Group Games Schedule

June 6, Thursday: Pakistan vs USA (Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas)

June 9, Sunday: Pakistan vs India (Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York)

June 11, Tuesday: Pakistan vs Canada (Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York)

June 16, Sunday: Pakistan vs Ireland (Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill

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