T20 World Cup 2021: Strongest Pakistan Predicted Playing XI against Australia

Pakistan will clash with Australia in the second semifinal of the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup. The Pakistan side has been on a superb winning streak and has won all 5 matches in the Super 12 stages of the competition.

Australia won 4 out of their 5 encounters in the Super 12 stages, and will also enter this rubber in confident fashion. In this article, let us take a look at the predicted playing XI of the Pakistan side for their clash against Australia.

Openers: Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have both been in good form in the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup. While Azam has plundered 264 runs in the competition at an average of 66.00 and a strike rate of close to 130, Rizwan has amassed 214 runs in the tournament at an average in excess of 70.

Middle Order: Fakhar Zaman, Shoaib Malik and Asif Ali

Fakhar Zaman has failed to get going in the competition and has scored just 54 runs in 4 innings at a poor average of 13.50. Veteran right-hander Shoaib Malik has been in excellent form in the tournament, averages 99.00, and has scored his runs at a strike rate of 186.79.

Asif Ali has also applied the finishing touches for the ‘Men in Green’ with the willow in this tournament with aplomb. The right-handed batter has contributed useful runs every time he has walked out to bat and is an asset for the Pakistan side.

All Rounders: Mohammad Hafeez, Imad Wasim, and Shadab Khan

Mohammad Hafeez has scored 32* and 31 in his last 2 innings in the tournament and will be confident heading into the semifinal clash against Australia. Imad Wasim has scalped 4 wickets in the 5 matches that he has played in the 2021 T20 World Cup. And finally, Shadab Khan has prized out 5 willow wielders in the competition and has leaked runs at an economy rate of less than 6 runs per over.

Bowlers: Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, and Shaheen Afridi

Pakistan will go in with 3 pacers in Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, and Shaheen Afridi. Hasan Ali has picked up 5 wickets in the tournament, while Haris Rauf has scalped 8 batters at an average of 17.00. And finally, left-arm seamer Shaheen Afridi has picked up 6 wickets in the entire tournament at a strike rate of 20.00.