T20 World Cup: Pakistan's all-time greatest XI in tournament history

Pakistan are the only side to qualify for the knockouts six times in the T20 World Cup. In 2009, they became the champions of the tournament following India in 2007, and came close to the trophy, qualifying for the final in the 2022 edition. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Pakistan supporters will expect their team to be at their best and clinch the coveted trophy under their young captain Shaheen Shah Afridi. Noting Pakistan’s performance in the past eight editions of the T20 World Cup, let’s prepare their all-time best XI of the T20I tournament. Here is Pakistan’s all-time best XI of the T20 World Cup: 1. Mohammad Rizwan Mohammad-Rizwan. (Photo Source: Twitter) Mohammad Rizwan has played a couple of T20 World Cup editions for Pakistan, thus far, and his overall numbers say he has looked decent with his bat and gloves. Playing his maiden T20 World Cup instalment in 2021, he justified his role in the side with his scintillating batting display. In Pakistan’s journey until the semi-final, Rizwan scored 281 runs in six games at a strike rate of 127.72 and ended the competition as the third-leading run-getter. Pakistan also ended their India hoodoo in that competition with a ten-wicket victory over the arch-rivals. In the memorable win, Rizwan chipped in with his 68-run knock from 52 deliveries. Along with Babar Azam, he also stitched an unbeaten 152-run stand which is the highest stand for Pakistan in the tournament. 2. Imran Nazir Imran Nazir. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Imran Nazir was a crucial member of Pakistan’s 2007 and 2012 T20 World Cup campaigns. The stylish opener’s aggressive batting style helped the Men in Green win crucial games in 2007. His excellent knock of 59 off 41 against New Zealand in the semi-final still resides in the minds of Pakistan team supporters. Nazir also showed his spunky side against India in the final in Johannesburg. The right-handed batter had smashed 33 off 14 against the arch-rivals but was run out due to a misunderstanding with Younis Khan. His wicket cost Pakistan as their innings later slowed down and eventually, the Men in Green lost the contest by five runs. The fierce opener played 13 T20 World Cup games and scored 300 runs at an extraordinary strike rate of 150.00. 3. Kamran Akmal (Wicketkeeper) Kamran Akmal. (Photo by Graham Crouch/Getty Images) Kamran Akmal served Pakistan in five T20 World Cup editions. In the illustrious T20 tournament, he amassed 524 runs in 28 innings at a strike rate of 115.92. As a wicketkeeper, his record has been brilliant in the tournament as he is the second-most successful stumper with 30 dismissals (12 catches and 18 stumpings) in 30 matches. In Pakistan’s title triumph in 2009, Akmal played as an opener and delivered fine starts to the team in the knockout games against South Africa and Sri Lanka. The Men in Green failed to defend their title in 2010, losing to Australia in the semi-final but Kamran again proved that he is a man of big occasions with his 50-run innings off just 34 deliveries. 4. Shoaib Malik Shoaib Malik. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) Shoaib Malik has played the most matches for Pakistan in the T20 World Cup along with Shahid Afridi. He has played 34 matches in the tournament and has scored 646 runs in 31 innings at a strike rate of 123.28. In the maiden T20 World Cup, Pakistan concluded their campaign as runners-up under his captaincy. As a batter, Malik has put up a decent show with his bat in the inaugural edition of the tournament. With 195 runs in seven games at a strike rate of 126.62 and an average of 39.00, he became the fourth-highest run-scorer. 5. Younis Khan Younis Khan. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) Younis Khan played for Pakistan in two T20 World Cups (2007 and 2009). In 2009, he held the reins of the team and the major achievement of his leadership stint and international career was guiding his team to the T20 World Cup trophy in England. After missing the opportunity to clinch the title in 2007, Pakistan grabbed the opportunity of becoming T20I champions under Younis. Following the defeats against quality sides England and Sri Lanka, the veteran instilled confidence in his teammates. The side fought back and won the trophy after beating big teams New Zealand in the Super Eight round, South Africa in the semi-final, and Sri Lanka in the final. With the bat, Younis chipped in with 172 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 138.93. Discussing his overall numbers in the distinguished T20I tournament, the right-handed batter scored 299 runs in 14 games at a strike rate of 124.06. 6. Misbah-ul-Haq Mishabh Ul Haq. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) Misbah-ul-Haq proved his batting potential in the 2007 T20 World Cup. In Pakistan’s fabulous campaign, Misbah played fearlessly and ended up as the third-highest run-getter in the competition. The right-handed batter scored 218 runs with two fifties in seven matches. Misbah was a part of Pakistan’s 2009 and 2010 T20 World Cup teams as well. Appearing in the first three editions of the T20I tournament, he played a total of 20 matches and scored 368 runs with two fifties in 17 innings. Also check: India's all-time greatest XI in T20 World Cup history 7. Shahid Afridi Shahid Afridi. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) Shahid Afridi played for Pakistan from 1996 to 2008 and during his 22-year international career, he delivered a lot of match-winning performances to the team. Back in 2007, when Pakistan concluded their campaign as runners-up, Afridi received the Player of the Tournament award. The veteran got the award for picking up 12 wickets in seven matches at an economy of 6.71 and ending up as the joint second-leading wicket-taker. In 2009, Pakistan won the coveted trophy under Younis in England and Afridi played an instrumental role with both bat and ball. As a batter, he racked up 176 runs in seven matches while with the ball, he grabbed 11 wickets at an economy of 5.32. Afridi marked his presence for Pakistan in the first six editions of the T20 World Cup. He played 34 matches in the tournament and scored 546 runs at a strike rate of 154.23. He is the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament history with 39 wickets at an economy of 6.72. 8. Shaheen Shah Afridi Shaheen Shah Afridi. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) Shaheen Afridi will be seen leading Pakistan in the upcoming T20 World Cup to be played in the West Indies and the USA. In the last two instalments of the T20I tournament, Shaheen spearheaded Pakistan’s bowling unit fabulously, picking up a total of 18 wickets in 13 matches at a frugal economy of 6.58. Back in 2021, he made his T20 World Cup debut with his three-wicket haul against India in Dubai. Riding on his magnificent bowling, the Men in Green ended their World Cup jinx against the Men in Blue, registering a 10-wicket win. In the 2022 T20 World Cup, the speedster again showcased his bowling mettle and ended up as Pakistan’s highest wicket-taker in the competition with 11 wickets in seven matches at an economy of 6.15. 9. Umar Gul Umar Gul. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) Umar Gul is the only bowler who became the leading wicket-taker in consecutive two instalments of the T20 World Cup. In the 2007 edition, he got 13 wickets in seven matches at an economy of 5.60 while in 2009, he helped Pakistan win the title with his disciplined bowling. In his team’s sensational World Cup victory, the pacer had chipped in with 13 wickets in seven games at an impressive economy of 6.44. Featuring five T20 World Cups played from 2007 to 2014, Gul played 24 matches for Pakistan and accumulated 35 wickets at an economy of 7.30. 10. Saeed Ajmal Saeed Ajmal. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) Saeed Ajmal was known for trapping batters with his brilliant off-spin talent. Following the 2009 T20 World Cup, he became a renowned figure in cricketing circles after his disciplined bowling for Pakistan in the T20 World Cup in England. The spin wizard scalped 12 wickets in seven games at an economy of 5.82 and played a vital role in making Pakistan the second T20I champions. Ajmal played 23 matches in the T20 World Cups and notched up 36 wickets at an economy of 6.79. These numbers make him the fourth-leading wicket-taker in the tournament. 11. Mohammad Asif Mohammad Asif. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) Mohammad Asif played only the 2007 instalment of the T20 World Cup. In Pakistan’s decent campaign, he displayed his confidence with the ball. The pacer took ten wickets in seven matches at an economy of 7.90, with the best bowling innings of 4/18 against the arch-rivals India in a group game in Durban. In the final against the Men in Blue in Johannesburg, he delivered an important breakthrough getting the scalp of Yusuf Pathan, who was looking to be impactful and make his international debut impressive.

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T20 World Cup: Pakistan's all-time greatest XI in tournament history

Check out the all-time top players from the Pakistan team who performed exceptionally in T20 World Cups. Here, we highlight their remarkable batting and bowling records, stats, and achievements.

4. Shoaib Malik

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