Pakistan’s probable 15-member squad for T20 World Cup 2024
Babar Azam will be tasked with the job of winning for Pakistan their first silverware after 7 years as they head to West Indies and USA for the T20 World Cup 2024.
When the T20I World Cup starts in June one team will be under immense focus for their natural flair and ability. The side in question is none other than Pakistan, the winners of the tournament in 2009.
No other side has captivated the fans for their performances on the field apart from India as much as Pakistan has. Babar Azam has been given the job of leading his side to the title once again. Shaheen Afridi, who led the T20I team earlier this year, was stripped off the captaincy causing tensions within the camp.
Pakistan are in the same group as India and the two arch-rivals face each other on the 9th of June in New York. The Pakistanis are currently playing a five-match-T20I series against New Zealand which has seen the return of Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim.
Here is Pakistan’s probable 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 -
1. Babar Azam (Captain)
The 29-year-old Pakistani skipper will have a lot of hopes resting on his shoulders when he leads his side in June. Babar Azam without doubt is one of the best T20I batters in the world today. The right-handed batter oozes class with the bat whenever he bats but it is his strike rate that has been a hot topic of debate.
Babar Azam has played 112 T20I matches for Pakistan, scoring 3749 runs with three centuries and 33 half-centuries. While Babar averages over 41 in this format it is his strike rate of 129 which would worry a lot of Pakistani fans.
2. Mohammad Rizwan
Just like Suryakumar Yadav of India, Mohammad Rizwan is a key player for his side in the T20I format. Mohammad Rizwan, over the years, has formed a good opening partnership at the top with Babar Azam.
The soon to be 32-year-old averages close to 50 from the 93 games he has played for Pakistan. Mohammad Rizwan too has a less than satisfactory strike rate which has yet again been discussed a lot in the media.
3. Saim Ayub
At the age of 21, Saim Ayub is being seen as the next big thing in Pakistan cricket. The left-handed batter is the quintessential modern-day T20I player. Saim Ayub first came into the view after his exploits in the Caribbean Premier League 2023.
So far, the youngster hasn’t been able to do much with the bat for Pakistan in the 15 games he has played. The T20I World Cup could be the perfect stage for Saim Ayub to show his class and talent that has been spoken about highly.
4. Fakhar Zaman
Pakistan’s only batter to score 200 runs in ODI cricket, Fakhar Zaman is a natural stroke player. The left-handed batter mixes classy shots with some brutal hits to the fence and is a known six-hitter.
So far Fakhar Zaman has played 81 games for Pakistan and scored 1559 runs with nine half-centuries. The opposition bowlers have been able to get the better of him in recent times, but on his day when in full flow Fakhar is a treat to watch.
5. Iftikhar Ahmed
The 33-year old is one of the key players in the Pakistani middle order with the bat. Iftikhar Ahmed, just like, former skipper Misbah-ul-Haq is a batter with the ability to change his game as per the required situations.
During the PSL 2024 tournament, Iftikhar showed why he is termed as one of most dangerous batters in Pakistan. His crucial knocks were crucial for his side, especially in the back end of the innings.
Also Check: India's probable 15-member squad for T20 World Cup 2024
6. Shadab Khan
Starting out as a leg-spin bowler, Shadab Khan has come leaps and bounds in the last few years. The 25-year-old has played 95 games for Pakistan and picked 106 wickets so far. His economy rate of 7 runs per over shows how difficult he can be to get away as a bowler.
Shadab is also more than useful with the bat having scored 610 runs with one half-century. The 25-year-old is seen as one of the senior voices in the team and will yet again be crucial for his team’s chances during the 2024 T20I World Cup.
7. Imad Wasim
35-year-old Imad Wasim is one of those cricketers who is handy across the different facets of the game. Imad had briefly retired from the sport before changing his mind to make himself available for the T20I World Cup 2024.
The all-rounder is a very canny operator with the ball and has great variations and a very deceptive faster ball. Apart from being a very good fielder, Imad Wasim can also bat well and give the ball a good whack in the final few overs of the innings.
8. Shaheen Shah Afridi
For the last few years, Shaheen Shah Afridi has been the lead pacer for Pakistan with the ability to prize out key wickets. In the T20I format, the 23-year-old is dangerous with the new ball with his swing and ability to bowl the yorker.
The last few months have been difficult for the young pacer. First, he endured a miserable PSL 2024 with his Lahore Qalandars side and then was also stripped off the national team's captaincy. Many batters will be wary of a fit and firing Shaheen Afridi and the dangerous he can pose with the ball.
9. Mohammad Amir
The original next big pace sensation from Pakistan made his comeback to international cricket after four years. Mohammad Amir picked 2/13 from his three overs in his first full game for his side in the seven-wicket win against New Zealand in the 2nd T20I.
While Amir may not have the pace anymore, he has experience and guile and the ability to swing the ball. The left-arm pacer can also bowl a clever slower ball and has a deadly yorker to dismiss the best batters in the world.
10. Naseem Shah
Counted as one of the best bowlers with the new ball in the world right now, Naseem Shah will be a key player for Pakistan. The right-arm quick is not only a canny operator but also has the ability to swing the ball with pace.
The injury to Naseem during the ODI World Cup 2023 opened up a weakness in the bowling unit. Now that he is back and is bowling well, Naseem will be one of the players to watch out for during the T20 World Cup 2024.
Also Check: Australia's probable 15-member squad for T20 World Cup 2024
11. Abrar Ahmed
In the few games that he has played in the T20I format, Abrar Ahmed has been very impressive with the ball. The 25-year-old has picked just two wickets so far with the ball, but his economy rate of 5.75 speaks a lot about his talent.
With the grounds in the USA and West Indies set to be smaller in size, it gives batters a chance to go after the bowlers. This is where Abrar Ahmed comes into play as he has the ability to deceive a batter with his flight and turn and dismiss them.
12. Haris Rauf
The last few months have been tough for Haris Rauf with injuries and trouble with his own home board playing a huge part. The right-arm pacer is slowly getting back to bowling after being out due to injury.
Haris Rauf is one of the few pacers who has the ability to bowl at good pace, bowling at the batter’s body and making run-scoring difficult. Despite his penchant to go for runs, Haris Rauf has been one of the best Pakistan bowlers in T20I format.
13. Usman Khan
The Pakistani selectors will be keeping a close eye on the secondary wicketkeeper slot. Usman Khan could be given the nod ahead of Azam Khan merely for his ability to strike the ball big and his current batting form.
Usman has already scored four centuries in the T20 format from a mere 39 games. His average of 36 and a strike rate of 145 shows the prowess he possesses. While he may not have scored many runs in the recent series against New Zealand, Pakistan will surely want to keep their faith in the 28-year-old to come good.
14. Zaman Khan
One of the many bowlers in the modern day game with action modelled after Lasith Malinga. Zaman Khan may not be as quick as a Matheesha Pathirana but is as deadly and accurate as the young Sri Lankan.
The 22-year-old has played nine matches for Pakistan so far and picked six wickets. While he may not make it to the starting XI, Zaman Khan will be a handy addition on the bench to provide the much-needed back-up.
PSL 2024 saw the best of Usama Mir as he showed why he is rated so highly in the Pakistani cricket circles. The 28-year-old has for years been a consistent performer in domestic cricket before being called up to the Pakistani side.
Usama Mir will be competing with Abrar Ahmed for a place in the playing XI. With Shadab Khan also in the team, Pakistan will not want three leg-spin bowlers in their playing XI. His recent form in the PSL might swing things in his favor to play in the T20I World Cup 2024 for Pakistan.
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