Pakistan have a reputation for unpredictability and for unleashing young talent onto the world stage,
but their squad at this World T20 reflects a safety-first approach.
This might have something to do with a makeshift selection committee at
the helm amid all the administrative uncertainty and legal tussles that
have swirled around Pakistan cricket over the last year or so.
Led by Mohammad
Hafeez, the world's leading allrounder in the shorter formats,
Pakistan's 15-man squad offers a lot of flexibility while being centered
around senior campaigners including surprise inclusions such as Kamran
Akmal and Shoaib Malik. Pakistan have four allrounders, three of whom
are spinners - a factor that might prove instrumental given the slow pitches.
It remains to be seen where Kamran - if he takes the wicketkeeping gloves from his brother Umar - will bat,
whether he will split the opening combination of Ahmed Shehzad and
Sharjeel Khan or come in lower down. Hafeez is likely to bat at No. 3
while the middle order, containing Umar Akmal, Sohaib Maqsood, Shoaib
Malik and Shahid Afridi, looks potent.
Bowling has usually been Pakistan's strength but their attack,
particularly the seamers, has struggled for wickets in recent times. As
recently as the Asia Cup,
they took all ten wickets only once, against Afghanistan. Pakistan were
dented by the absence of Mohammad Irfan, and they have gambled on Umar
Gul to bear the strike bowler's burden.
Pakistan's T20 squads, over the years, have had no exposure
to the IPL. Hafeez suggested it was a missed opportunity for the
players, but it hasn't been a handicap in terms of their World T20
performances. This time around, they are part of the so-called group of
death, alongside India, Australia and West Indies, with Bangladesh looking likely to join them.
Key players
Given the conditions in Bangladesh you can't think beyond Saeed Ajmal but T20 is all about big runs and hard-hitting batsmen. Sharjeel Khan is the key man
in the top order. He is relatively new to international cricket and
only has a handful of T20s under his belt but his strike rate of 141.66
suggests he could buy Pakistan a few muscular starts.
Kamran Akmal,
who has played all the previous World T20s, is back in the team after a
year in the wilderness. He last played for Pakistan in last year's Champions Trophy and last played a T20 international in South Africa in March 2013. His inclusion in the squad is a surprise but it provides him possibly one last chance to re-energise a fading international career.
Surprise package
Pakistan's bowling is full of variety, and 35-year-old Zulfiqar Babar's left-arm spin could spice up the attack. He made a big impact on T20 debut last year, taking 3 for 23 against West Indies in Kingstown. A hand injury
halted his progress, but he has returned and could possibly add a
left-arm element to a strong spin attack alongside Ajmal, Afridi and
Hafeez.
Weakness
Pakistan had a good Asia Cup, but showed flashes
of their tendency to self-destruct against Afghanistan and in the
opening game against Sri Lanka. Inconsistency still dogs the side.
Fielding too has been a concern, and it has the potential to undo their
good work in other departments.
World T20 history
Pakistan have featured in two finals, winning the 2009 title in England and losing the 2007 final, to India, in South Africa. They entered the semi-finals in the West Indies in 2010 and posted a mammoth total of 191 but a famous final-over assault
by Michael Hussey on Ajmal cost them a place in their third straight
final. They also reached the semi-finals in 2012, but hosts Sri Lanka
halted their progress.
Recent form
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