Team Pakistan
Political and internal conditions have prevented cricket matches from being held in Pakistan. Not many nations want to tour and play cricket in Pakistan. With this Pakistan are deprived from playing cricket on their home soil. The good news is that cricketers of Pakistan still possessed their talent and try to play upto their potential.
At a time when India has suspended their cricketing ties with it’s neighbours, the men in green are to cross Wagah borders to participate in the ICC World Cup 2023.
Baring 2003 and 2007 where they played poor cricket and made an early exit, Pakistan have made it a habit of qualifying in the knock out rounds or at least something close to that. They played some quality cricket in 1975 but unfortunately couldn’t make it to the last four. In 1979 and 1983 West Indies halted their dream run in the last four clash. They were firm favourites in 1987 but Australia stopped them from stepping onto the Grand Finale. Imran’s boys stunned everyone by lifting the Benson and Hedges world cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 25, `1992. In 1996 it was their arch rivals India who dethroned them in the quarter finals. They put up a scintillating performance in 1999 under the captaincy of Wasim Akram before late Shane Warne single handedly prevented them from clinching the trophy. In 2011 poor fielding halted their dream run against India in the semi-finals. Four years later they went down fighting against the Australians in the quarter finals. In 2019, they narrowly missed the semi-final bus by finishing below New Zealand in the points tally. Courtesy : Poor Net Run Rate.
Also Read : Capable To Do Better But Will They Deliver ?
Led by Babar Azam, Pakistan batting will be spearheaded by Imam-Ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmad and Abdullah Shafique. While Agha Salman, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz will be donning the allrounders role. On the other hand, Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi to take up the responsibility of the bowling department.
Pakistan almost lifted the T20 world cup last year in Australia when a sudden injury to Shaheen Afridi upset all calculations against England but will they finally annexe the trophy this time? Only time is to answer that.
