What Should Pakistan Squad For T20 World Cup 2022 Look Like?
Preparations for the T20 World Cup 2022 are underway as some of the top international teams have started announcing their squads for the mega event in recent days. The team announcement deadline is September 16 and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to announce its team in the coming days.
The Men in Green recently suffered an embarrassing loss to Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2022 final that really exposed the squad’s flaws. Some roster changes are expected to take place ahead of the mega-event, with some out-of-form players being replaced by the best players from the National Tour.
Additionally, Pakistan’s express setter Shaheen Afridi will also return after suffering a knee injury over a month ago, further strengthening an already impressive fast bowling team.
This is what Pakistan’s 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup 2022 is set to look like:
Babar Azam (C)
All-format captain Babar Azam will be the team’s starter despite his recent failures in the shorter format. Babar has been one of the most consistent players in world cricket in recent years and Pakistan will look to the star batsman to find success in Australia.
Mohammad Rizwan (Wk)
T20I world-ranked batsman Mohammad Rizwan was in sensational 20-year-old cricket form last year. He took some flak for his slow rate of fire at the front of the order, but he’ll be a hit as a side starter.
Shadab Khan (Vc)
Pakistani vice-captain Shadab Khan is one of the team’s most important players. His all-around skills make him one of the top names on the team’s roster. Shadab’s versatile striking style also makes him a real asset in the striking unit.
Asif Ali
Pakistani low-order explosives batsman Asif Ali is one of the mainstays of the team due to his ability to win games. While Asif doesn’t score much, his ability to hit fast runs and hit six at will makes him a vital cog on the team.
Mohammed Nawaz
Pakistan is blessed with two all-rounders who can attack anywhere in midfield. Mohammad Nawaz has been in exceptional form on both racquet and ball lately and like Shadab he should be one of the top names on the list of players heading to Australia.
Shaheen Afridi
Now it’s getting exciting, the rapid bowling drums of the Men in Green. Train driver Shaheen Afridi is expected to complete rehabilitation in time and fly to Australia. The Express Stimulator will be a handful on the bouncy tracks.
Haris Rauf
Shaheen’s accomplice Haris Rauf has come a long way in Shaheen’s absence. Rauf was sensational at the Asia Cup 2022 which has just ended and will look to continue his excellent form at the mega-event. Haris’ ability to play the new ball to death places him among the best T20 pacers in world cricket.
Naseem Shah
Young pacemaker Naseem Shah made a dream T20I debut for Pakistan at the Asia Cup 2022. Naseem’s speed and momentum make him a deadly new ball weapon and it will be a pleasure to see him play alongside Shaheen in the first period. fans everywhere.
Shahawaz Dahani
Shahnawaz Dahani impressed at the Asia Cup before being sidelined through injury. Dahani is expected to be the team’s fourth baseman as he offers something different compared to the other three basemen above. Dahani creates rhythm off the court and his ball slides rather than hits the racquet, making him a real threat.
Mohammed Wasim Jr.
There is a spot for another pacemaker on the team and there was a tie between Mohammad Wasim Jr. and Mohammed Hasnain. Wasim Jr. gives him an advantage over Hasnain, who isn’t a very good defender either.
Usman Qadir
Usman Qadir would be our pick for the team’s backup spinner. Qadir’s amazing variations make him a decent choice to replace Shadab Khan compared to the other spinners available in the national build.
Qadir needs to work on his line and length, but he’s nonetheless the best option available at the moment. He has also played a lot of cricket in Australia which he can use to his advantage if given the chance.
This is where things are heating up as intermittent issues have left the team in a dilemma. With four batting points up for grabs, Pakistan will have to be very smart in choosing. Here are our four tips for the percussion unit.
Haider Ali
Haider Ali would be our top pick for the mid-tier due to his ability to play a high hit rate. The talented young batsman has a wide range of shots and Australia’s actual shots would suit his batting game as well. Haider’s ability to pick up the pace would give the Pakistani striking unit a huge boost.
Shan Masoud
Shan Masood is one of the best batsmen in world cricket. The southpaw was in great form in all three formats of the game and was particularly impressive in the shorter formats.
He reinvented his game and is now fourth in the current T20 National Cup. Shan has the ability to play from any position and his natural striking game would greatly benefit the fast-firing Aussie.
Khushdil Shah
Khushdil Shah was disappointed at the just-ended Asia Cup 2022. He wasn’t among the races and appeared to have low confidence which led to poor performances throughout the tournament except for one game against Hong Kong. We would still keep him on the team for his ability to hit hard and he could be a useful player if he came along.
Azam Khan
Our final pick for this team would be the talented striker Azam Khan. Azam’s natural ability to hit big makes him a real asset in T20 cricket. While there are question marks surrounding its fitness, its benefits outweigh its downsides.
Azam Khan is considered one of the best spin hitters in the world, while his ability to crush point guards is equally impressive. He would be our pick to replace Rizwan and could even play alongside Rizwan with the latter handing him the gloves.
Here is our team of 15 players:
| Babar Azam (c) | Mohammad Rizwan (Wk) | Shadab Khan (Vc) | Asif Ali | Mohammad Nawaz |
| Shaheen Afridi | Haris Rauf | Naseem Shah | Shahnawaz Dahani | Mohammad Wasim Jr. |
| Usman Qadir | Haider Ali | Shan Masood | Khushdil Shah | Azam Khan |
Recognitions
Mohammad Hasnain, Iftikhar Ahmed, Sharjeel Khan, and Shoaib Malik have all been considered for different positions but the composition of the squad does not allow them to be included. They will certainly be on the selection radar and it would be interesting to see how the final team compares.
Also Read: Pakistan, India, or Afghanistan: Qualification Scenarios for Asia Cup 2022 Final
