Asia Cup 2022: Predicted Pakistan Playing XI

Pakistan will be one of the strong contenders to win the Asia Cup 2022, which will be played from August 27 to September 11. The Men in Green will be playing in conditions that are favourable to them as the continental tournament will be taking place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Having played a quality amount of cricket in those conditions, the Babar Azam-led side would be hoping to make the most of their chances as they eye a third Asia Cup title. Pakistan will be heading into this tournament with a lethal batting and bowling attack comprising the likes of skipper Babar, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi. They kickstart their tournament against arch-rivals India at the Dubai International Stadium on August 28. The Men in Green have an advantage in this contest, having outclassed the Indian team by 10 wickets at the very same venue in last year’s T20 World Cup group game. Here’s a look at Pakistan’s predicted line-up for Asia Cup: 1. Babar Azam (c) Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan. (Photo Source: Twitter) Pakistan skipper Babar Azam might have played just a solitary T20I this year, at home against Australia in April, but he remains the top-ranked batter in the shortest format. Babar finished as the leading run-scorer in last year’s T20 World Cup in the UAE, scoring 303 runs from six matches as Pakistan finished as the semifinalists. He would be hoping to replicate similar performances in the upcoming edition as Pakistan eye a first major trophy under his captaincy. Therefore, Babar will certainly be a threat to all the opposition teams in Asia Cup 2022. 2. Mohammad Rizwan Mohammad Rizwan. (Photo by Gareth Copley-ICC/ICC via Getty Images) Mohammad Rizwan is another player who has the ability to win games single-handedly. He has been a consistent performer in the last few years for Pakistan. Even though the team has played just one T20I till now, Rizwan remains the third-ranked batter in the shortest format and the Asia Cup is a perfect platform for him to climb the ladder. The wicketkeeper-batter would be hoping to take the challenge the best bowlers across the continent in this battle for Asian supremacy and he would be charged up to make his bat do the talking. Babar and Rizwan are currently one of the best opening pairs in T20Is and Pakistan would be expecting these two to work in tandem by ensuring brisk starts. 3. Fakhar Zaman Fakhar Zaman. (Photo Source: Twitter) The selectors have shown faith in Fakhar Zaman by selecting him and a lot would be expected from the top-order batter, who will be given the responsibility of batting at the all-important number three position in the upcoming tournament. Zaman’s role would be to build and capitalize on the good start provided by the openers and torment the bowling attack with his aggressive brand of cricket. Zaman has a strike rate close to 132 in the shortest format, and he can be an explosive batter once he is well-set at the crease. The southpaw would be hoping to showcase consistent performances in Asia Cup 2022, as he looks to find a place in the squad for the T20 World Cup down under in October-November. 4. Asif Ali Asif Ali. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA / AFP) Asif Ali was selected in the Pakistan squad as a power-hitting middle-order batter in 2018. The last four years have seen him being in and out of the team due to various reasons, however, Asif found a place in the last year’s T20 World Cup and played a finisher’s role to near perfection. His best knock came against Afghanistan in the group fixture, where he finished things off in style with four sixes. Now, the explosive batter would be hoping to take up middle-order responsibilities in the upcoming tournament with his eyes fixed on finding a place in this year’s T20 World Cup. Asif would be well aware of the UAE conditions, having played a considerable amount of cricket over there both for Pakistan as well as in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). 5. Khushdil Shah Khushdil Shah. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) Middle-order sensation Khushdil Shah would be looking forward to proving a point in the upcoming Asia Cup T20. Shah has the reputation of pulling off the big hits in the middle order and also provide handy breakthroughs with the ball in hand. He attained fortune in the home series against the West Indies a couple of months ago and since then, he has been in the good books of the national selectors as well as the team management. Khushdil would be charged up to face the Indian bowling attack and score some vital runs in the middle and death overs. 6. Iftikhar Ahmad Pak vs WI 3rd ODI. (Photo Source: Pakistan Cricket) Ifthikar Ahmad will be entrusted with the responsibility of scoring vital runs in the middle-order along with picking up crucial wickets. This will be the all-rounder’s first major tournament and he would be hoping to come up with match-winning performances in the conditions that are familiar to him. In the 18 T20Is, he has amassed 271 runs at an average of 30.11 and a strike rate of over 134. The onus would be on Iftikhar Ahmad to prove his mettle as an all-rounder with Pakistan’s first game against arch-rivals India in Asia Cup. 7. Shadab Khan Shadab Khan. (Photo Source: Twitter) Shadab Khan is a valuable asset to the Pakistan team. He is a handy all-rounder who has the potential to change the complexion of the game with his impactful batting in the middle-order and can be equally lethal with the ball in hand by bamboozling the world-class batters with his leg-spin. The bowling all-rounder has so far represented Pakistan in 64 T20Is and has gone on to amass 275 runs in 26 innings averaging 18.33. He has also registered 73 scalps to his name at an average of 21.79. Thus, Shadab would definitely be one of the players to watch out for in Asia Cup 2022. 8. Usman Qadir Usman Qadir. (Photo Source: Getty Images) One of the shining stars of Pakistan cricket, Usman Qadir would be desperately looking forward to grabbing his chances in the upcoming tournament. He will be one of their frontline spinners, but unlike spin all-rounders, he will be the only full-time spinner in the side, In the 18 matches, the left-arm spinner has picked up 24 wickets at an average of 16.41 and an economy of 7.57. He picked up two wickets in the one-off T20I against Australia at home earlier this year. Therefore, all eyes will be on Qadir to strike in the middle overs when the opposition batters are well set in the middle. 9. Haris Rauf Haris Rauf. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Haris Rauf is also one of the candidates to have been selected for the Asia Cup 2022. He has managed to create a good impression in the last 12 months for Pakistan in white-ball cricket. Rauf picked up one wicket in the one-off T20I against Australia this April. The speedster had registered 25 scalps at an average of 25.48 and an economy of 8.32 in 21 games. Rauf would be expected to work in tandem with the likes of Shaheen Afridi as Pakistan have fielded a strong pace attack for this competition. 10. Mohammad Wasim Jr Mohammad Wasim. (Photo by RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images) In recent turn of events, Shaheen Afridi has been ruled out of Asia Cup 2022 due to knee injury and this would be a great setback for strong looking Pakistan in the mega event. But with Shaheen not available in the setup, it would be a chance for other emerging pacers to showcase their talent and make their case strong ahead of the T20 World Cup 2022 and Mohammad Wasim is one such name. Wasim can have a great impact in the UAE with his medium pace and make Pakistan’s case sturdy while pairing up with the likes of Shahnawaz Dahani, Haris Rauf etc. The 20-year-old has donned the Green jersey in eight ODIs picking 15 wickets at an economy of 5.14. On the other hand, he has been part of 11 T20Is where he has 17 wickets in his tally with an economy of 8.10. 11. Shahnawaz Dahani Shahnawaz Dahani. (Photo by ASIF HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images) Shahnawaz Dahani was one of the players who was part of the Pakistan squad for the T20 World Cup last year, but did not get a chance to prove his mettle. Since the emerging pacer has now been included for Asia Cup 2022, he would be eager to make it matter. Dahani took 17 wickets in PSL 2022 representing the Multan Sultans and played an integral role in his team finishing as the runners-up, after going down to the first-time winners Lahore Qalandars by 42 runs in the summit clash. The tall pacer would be expected to make an impact with his pace while bowling alongside Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf.

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Asia Cup 2022: Predicted Pakistan Playing XI

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