Pakistan's Probable squad for Cricket World Cup 2015

With openers exposed to early seam and swing bowling in fast-bowling conditions, it is likely that most opening partnerships would not be able to resist for a longer period in Australia and New Zealand. A solid middle-order would be required to knock-off the early hardness off the ball and then score plenty-full for their bowlers to defend.

Expected: Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Sohaib Maqsood

Pakistan has had troubles with its opening pair but the middle-order is quite composed and based on veterans like Misbah-ul-Haq and Umar Akmal and with the return of Younis Khan, who is in red-hot form off late, would mean that Pakistan has nothing to worry about its middle-order. The bulk of the scoring will be done by Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq; Umar Akmal will be handy with his immense talent to tear-apart any opponent with his 360 degree shots.

Younis Khan, Sohaib Maqsood and Umar Akmal will score quick and easy runs while Misbah-ul-Haq and Fawad Alam would carry on with their hold-one-end-up thing and then blast away in the final overs of the game.

Reserves: Asad Shafiq, Umer Amin, Haris Sohail

Pakistan has a luxury of a long-list of awaiting contenders continuously knocking the selector’s door for their chances. Asad Shafiq and Umer Amin will pose a serious threat to any of the current under-performing middle-order batsman. Umer Amin may come handy with his medium pacers while Haris Sohail, yet to get a full chance at international level, may see his lucky-angels strike at the right moment.