World Cup 2019: Misbah-ul-Haq picks Pakistan’s Playing XI for the crucial game against England

After getting clobbered by the Windies in their first game of the Cricket World Cup 2019, Pakistan will be facing England in their second match in a bid for a comeback. Sarfaraz Ahmed’s boys were heavily criticised for their lacklustre show against the Caribbeans at Trent Bridge on Friday. England have humbled South Africa by 104 runs in their first match at The Oval.

Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq came up with his playing XI for the England clash and he took big-hitting batsman Asif Ali in place of left-arm all-rounder Imad Wasim who failed to impress against the West Indies, scoring just one.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo from London, Misbah said the prospect of a high-scoring game made him go for the change. “Last time we played there, we saw high-scoring games most of the time. And they (England) are using the same strip. They have a world record on that strip. It is important for Pakistan team. Imad was in good form during that preparation before the England series. But this World Cup especially and the warm-up games, he is not batting like that,” he was quoted as saying.

Here’s Misbah’s XI:

No point in picking Imad if he’s not bowling, feels Misbah

The 45-year-old also said that if Imad is not bowling with the new ball, it is reducing his effectiveness. He said Pakistan could bowl Mohammad Hafeez and Haris Sohail as the second-string bowlers and use Asif Ali at No.6 or 7. He said Asif can go after the bowling and add some crucial runs towards the end.

Asif, who lost his infant daughter recently, made the World Cup squad at the last minute by replacing Abid Ali. He was in good form in the five-match ODI series against England, scoring a couple of fifties. He has a strike rate of 137 plus in the ODIs.

Pakistan have now lost 11 matches in a row to teams like South Africa, Australia, England and the Windies and will have to bounce back strongly to remain in the race for the semi-finals. Their batting had clicked against England in the ODI series which though they lost 0-4 but against the pace bowling of the Windies, Pakistan collapsed like a pack of cards, getting all out for 105.