T20 World Cup 2021: Strongest Pakistan Predicted Playing XI against New Zealand

On 24th October 2021, the Pakistan side broke their World Cup jinx against India and posted their first victory over the ‘Men in Blue’ in 13 attempts. And, Babar Azam and his men did so in rousing fashion.

Pakistan were superior to India in every aspect of the game and hammered the Virat Kohli-led outfit with 10 wickets to spare in their opening match of the 2021 T20 World Cup.

Next up, the 2009 T20 World Cup champions will face New Zealand. The New Zealand side will enter this match on the back of losses in both their warm-up matches. Pakistan will be looking to post their second victory on the trot in the 2021 T20 World Cup when they take the field against the Black Caps. On that note, let us take a look at the predicted playing XI of the Pakistan side for this clash.

Openers: Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan will open the batting for Pakistan. Both Rizwan and Azam plundered the Indian bowling attack to shreds in Pakistan’s opening World Cup encounter. The Azam-Rizwan duo put on a match-winning partnership of 152 runs for the opening wicket to help Pakistan thrash India with 10 wickets to spare.

Both Azam and Rizwan scored half-centuries against the Indian side as well. If Azam and Rizwan continue in the same vein, then New Zealand will have to deal with a lot of headaches.

Middle Order: Fakhar Zaman, Shoaib Malik and Asif Ali

The middle-order will comprise of Fakhar Zaman, Shoaib Malik, and Asif Ali. Fakhar Zaman scored vital runs in both warm-up matches for the Pakistan side and is a vital cog of the Pakistan batting lineup.

Shoaib Malik is the second-highest run-scorer for Pakistan in T20I cricket and has amassed 2335 runs in 117 T20I matches at an average of 31.13. Asif Ali has been in poor form in the recent past and has not crossed the 20-run mark in his last 6 T20I innings.

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

Mohammad Hafeez, Imad Wasim, and Shadab Khan are the three all-rounders who will take the field for Pakistan against New Zealand. Hafeez is hugely experienced and has represented Pakistan in 114 T20I matches. While the 41-year-old has scored 2429 runs with the willow, Hafeez has also picked up 60 wickets as well.

Imad Wasim bowled 2 overs in the match against India, and leaked 10 runs, without scalping a wicket. Shadab Khan did a tidy job against the Indian side as well, picking up a solitary wicket in his quota of 4 overs, and leaked runs at an economy rate of 5.50 runs per over.

Bowlers: Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, and Shaheen Afridi

Shaheen Afridi was superb with the white ball in hand against India. The 21-year-old youngster picked up 3 wickets with the ball and leaked 31 runs in the 4 overs that he bowled. Afridi won the Player of the Match award for his scintillating performance against the Virat Kohli-led Indian side.

Even though Hasan Ali scalped 2 wickets, the right arm pacer was on the expensive side and went at an economy rate of 11 runs per over against India. And finally, Haris Rauf did a tidy job in Pakistan’s opening T20 World Cup encounter, giving away 25 runs in the 4 overs that he bowled, and picked up the wicket of Hardik Pandya as well.