Pakistan has always been a formidable side in T20 cricket, the shortest format of the game.
The Green Shirts have reached the final three times (2007, 2009, and 2022), securing victory once under the captaincy of Younis Khan in 2009. They have also appeared in six semi-finals out of the last eight World Cups, maintaining a strong record in these mega tournaments.
From 2007 to 2022, Pakistan played 47 matches in the T20 World Cups, winning 28, losing 18, and with one match ending without a result. Former skipper and all-rounder Shahid Afridi remains Pakistan’s top wicket-taker in all T20 World Cups with 39 wickets in 34 matches. His final appearance in the T20 World Cup was in 2016. However, Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan holds the record for most wickets in T20 World Cup history with 47 scalps in 36 matches.
Afridi is second on the list, while his countrymen Saeed Ajmal and Umar Gul also feature in the top six with 36 and 35 wickets, respectively. Indian captain Rohit Sharma and Shakib Al Hasan hold the record for playing in all the T20 World Cups since 2007. Another former captain, Shoaib Malik, remains the top scorer for Pakistan in all the T20 World Cups with 646 runs in 34 matches. His tally includes 47 fours and 17 sixes. Virat Kohli tops the list of most runs in T20 World Cup history with 1,142 runs in 28 matches. Malik is 12th on the list.
Predictably Unpredictable
Despite this impressive past record, Pakistan enters the T20 World Cup 2024 as an unpredictable team. On their day, they can beat any team anywhere in the world. However, their recent performances against Ireland and England were below par, which they need to improve to achieve better results in the mega event.
Campaign Begins Today
Pakistan will kick-start their World Cup campaign today against hosts USA in Dallas. Imad Wasim has been ruled out of the opening game due to injury, which may give a chance to Abrar Ahmed to make his World Cup debut.
Team Combination Woes
Pakistan has been facing a major issue with team combination. The team management, led by head coach Gary Kirsten, tried different combinations before the World Cup, but it did not produce the desired results. Two rain-hit matches against England also disrupted Pakistan’s plans to try other options. While other teams have arrived with proper planning and preparations, Pakistan is still searching for the best combination due to the comeback of Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim to the national side.
The batting lineup decisions, including who will open the innings, who will feature in the middle and lower order, and who will lead the pace attack, are still under consideration. The poor form of all-rounder Shadab Khan and Azam Khan has also created panic in the camp. The Men in Green have been struggling to find the right balance and combination in the team.
Babar Azam Exudes Confidence
However, skipper Babar Azam, in a PCB podcast, stated that the team combination had been finalized, and players must be prepared to embrace the roles designated to them by the head coach and captain. Only time will tell how they perform in this edition of the World Cup.
Pakistan Squad
Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Usman Khan.
Schedule of Pakistan Matches:
- 6 June – vs USA, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Dallas
- 9 June – vs India, Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York
- 11 June – vs Canada, Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York
- 16 June – vs Ireland, Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida
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