Pak Asia cup team looks most well balanced among all teams.

[Sgattick10]

Asia Cup 2018: Pakistan Pre-tournament Predicted XI

The Asia Cup being conducted in UAE, Pakistan's adopted home should also be an added advantage for them.

by Suryesh
JR. STAFF WRITER

Published - Sep 13, 2018 2:11 pm 
Updated - Sep 13, 2018 2:11 pm

1.1K Views

  

 

 

Pakistan Team. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The Pakistan cricket team has a huge task upfront in the Asia Cup. They will be up against some of the best teams from Asia in the 14th edition of the tournament. Their battle against the arch-rivals India is already stirring up tons of excitement amongst the fans. The team has won the tournament twice thus far and will be wanting to win it the third time in 2018.

With some exciting prospects in their squad, the side appears to be well-balanced and could give a tough competition to all the other teams. The team will be in action in the second game of the tournament where they will be facing Hong Kong. The Asia Cup being conducted in UAE, Pakistan’s adopted home should also be an added advantage for them. On that note, here is what could be their starting XI for the series.

 

 

Here is the likely pre-tournament XI for Pakistan:

Openers (Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq)

Fakhar Zaman has probably been the best find for Pakistan in the last one year. Since the Champions Trophy in 2017, this 28-year-old has grown leaps and bounds. The former Navy man is the fastest to 1,000 ODI runs and got there in just 18 innings. He also notched up a double century in the recently concluded series against Zimbabwe. With the terrific form that he is in, he is a sure shot option to be in the playing XI.

 

Imam-ul-Haq will be Fakhar’s opening partner. The former Pakistani skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq’s nephew is making some great inroads in international cricket. This flamboyant stroke-maker has scored 544 runs in 9 innings at an average of 68. Imam will be looking to continue his dominance in the Asia Cup as well. Furthermore, he is also a very good fielder which will assist his selection in the XI.

Middle Order (Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali)

Batting at No 3 is the ODI No. 2 batsman, Babar Azam. The 23-year-old adds great stability to the side and is highly consistent. He scored 184 runs in 4 innings in the series against Zimbabwe. Also, Babar gets his runs at quite a brisk pace which makes him so dangerous at this position.

Shoaib Malik will follow Babar Azam in the batting line up. He has rediscovered himself since the end of World Cup 2015 and playing some great knocks. Malik can adapt according to the situation of the game and can play aggressive or defensive cricket as required. He will be one of the most important members in the Pakistan side and Asif Ali will come into bat next after him. In the 3 international innings that he played, Ali scored 114 runs at an average of 57. His strike rate of 181 is mindblowing and will take up the role of the finisher in the side.

Wicket-keeper (Sarfraz Ahmed)

The Pakistani skipper in all three formats of the game will have an important role to play this tournament. He is street smart as a captain and likes to take the game onto the opposition. Furthermore, he doubles up as the wicket-keeper in the side and is a very safe gloveman.Sarfraz has played 90 ODIs thus far and has amassed 1,748 runs at an average of 34 and strike rate of 87. He would be eager to lead Pakistan to another triumph in this tournament after the Champions Trophy 2017.

All-rounders (Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz/Faheem Ashraf)

These two bowling all-rounders will be taking up the spin bowling responsibilities in the side. The 19-year-old Shadab was batted in just 8 innings in ODI cricket but has been highly effective. He averages 52 in the format with the bat and has picked 33 wickets in 22 games. Khan bowls at the good economy rate and keeps the pressure on the opposition batsmen.

With a leg-spinner and a left-arm orthodox spinner in the side, there will be quite some variety in the bowling attack. Also, Shoaib Malik can chip in with some off-spinners if required. Nawaz is also capable of opening the bowling when needed and has picked 13 scalps in 11 games. Depending on the conditions, it could be Faheem Ashrafalso who might make it into the XI. He picked 9 wickets in 4 games in Zimbabwe and is quite deceptive with his pace.

Bowlers (Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Usman Khan/Shaheen Afridi)

Mohammad Amir is one of the best Pakistani left-arm pacers in the current set up. He has got a good pace and can swing the ball both the ways. There was a lot of hype about the battle between him and Virat Kohli, which would not materialise anyways this time around. He didn’t have the best of series in Zimbabwe and picked only one wicket in three games. He would want to improve on that in the Asia Cup.

The ICC No. 3 ODI bowler, Hasan Aliwill be sharing the fast bowling responsibilities with Amir. He had a decent outing in Zimbabwe and picked six wickets in three games. There is a little bit of ambiguity about the third pacer in the side. Either of Usman Khan or Shaheen Afridi will take up the role. Usman was brilliant in Zimbabwe and will be the front-runner for the position while Shaheen Afridi will be looking forward to making his ODI debut.

[Sgattick10]

Looks like Pak will be the team to beat. Good openers esp the danger man Fakhar followed by stable and experienced middle order with good hitting lower order and a bunch of talented fast bowlers. 

[The Dark Horse]

Looks like Pakistan has a good team. Have not been following their players much as we don't play them often..

[zen]

after a quick glance, I only recognize 4-5 names so cannot comment 

[kohli]

They don't have quality spinner

[SK_IH]

Ghanta,Pak middle order is as ordinary as India's and we have better pair of openers in ODIs.One thing I ll say is they have better batting depth.

This Ind team can be a world beater with right influx of players, however for sides like Pak even this team is not that bad. 

[Global.Baba]

Pakistan have 2 good bowlers Amir and Ali. Unbelievable that teams haven't figured out this Ali guy. Such an innocuous looking bowler. just bowls line and length at 135 clicks. Amir can produce those magic deliveries even though he is more of a containing bowler than a wicket taker. Rest all are bang average.

 

before they were smashing Zim, they got whitewashed in Nzl in ODI's.

 

Having said that Indian team is pretty weak too. Non-existent middle order and lack of bowling depth

[Sgattick10]

Yea agree, apart from 3-4 guys I dont recognise any of these guys or how good/bad they are. But looks like they bat deep unlike us and their fast bowlers are quite good. Lets see how they play in the series.

[GautiMaan]

Average age of their squad will be lesser than ours,in the past it used to be the other way around.

I dont think i would mind us getting beaten,MSK and co need to go in some way,maybe a couple of thrashings from Pak would do it.

 

[Austin 3:!6]

45 minutes ago, Global.Baba said:

Pakistan have 2 good bowlers Amir and Ali. Unbelievable that teams haven't figured out this Ali guy. Such an innocuous looking bowler. just bowls line and length at 135 clicks. Amir can produce those magic deliveries even though he is more of a containing bowler than a wicket taker. Rest all are bang average.

 

before they were smashing Zim, they got whitewashed in Nzl in ODI's.

 

Having said that Indian team is pretty weak too. Non-existent middle order and lack of bowling depth

Hassan Ali's speed guns may show 135 clicks but he is a skitty bowler which hurries on the batsman. His pace is deceptive and hence batsman gets bowled out a lot on his deliveries.

 

Off topic: Has Rohit Sharma learned to face Amir yet?

[Switchblade]

They are favourites for this tournament due to familiarity with conditions and lower order batting.

[Switchblade]

13 minutes ago, Austin 3:!6 said:

Hassan Ali's speed guns may show 135 clicks but he is a skitty bowler which hurries on the batsman. His pace is deceptive and hence batsman gets bowled out a lot on his deliveries.

 

Off topic: Has Rohit Sharma learned to face Amir yet?

Rohit struggled against Willey as well during the third odi when there was lateral movement so it’s not that he only struggles against Amir.If it’s a flat wicket then Ro will get better of Amir.

Edited September 13, 2018 by Switchblade

[Switchblade]

1 hour ago, Global.Baba said:

Pakistan have 2 good bowlers Amir and Ali. Unbelievable that teams haven't figured out this Ali guy. Such an innocuous looking bowler. just bowls line and length at 135 clicks. Amir can produce those magic deliveries even though he is more of a containing bowler than a wicket taker. Rest all are bang average.

 

before they were smashing Zim, they got whitewashed in Nzl in ODI's.

 

Having said that Indian team is pretty weak too. Non-existent middle order and lack of bowling depth

Baba do you see the usual tormentor Malik tormenting us again?

[Global.Baba]

13 minutes ago, Austin 3:!6 said:

Hassan Ali's speed guns may show 135 clicks but he is a skitty bowler which hurries on the batsman. His pace is deceptive and hence batsman gets bowled out a lot on his deliveries.

 

Off topic: Has Rohit Sharma learned to face Amir yet?

Amir is an ordinary bowler, not important. Did Sachin prepare for Cronje/Razzaq?

[Global.Baba]

Just now, Switchblade said:

Baba do you see the usual tormentor Malik tormenting us again?

Unfortunately yes. I (my third eye) sees that he will rescue them in one of the games when they have their backs against the wall

[Global.Baba]

16 minutes ago, Austin 3:!6 said:

Hassan Ali's speed guns may show 135 clicks but he is a skitty bowler which hurries on the batsman. His pace is deceptive and hence batsman gets bowled out a lot on his deliveries.

 

Off topic: Has Rohit Sharma learned to face Amir yet?

Replace the "k" with the "H". This is a guy who went for 100 runs on 1 occasion,almost 2. Was part of the side that got smacked for the highest odi score ever. He is just having a sir AGarkar type season. Yes he is deceptively quicker than he looks but now since teams have their attention on him, he will go down fast.

[Switchblade]

Just now, Global.Baba said:

Unfortunately yes. I (my third eye) sees that he will rescue them in one of the games when they have their backs against the wall

Previously Anwar/Sohail used to score heavily against us then it was Fixer Butt now it was Zaman won’t be surprised if Imam becomes a star for them as India is the benchmark for them the amount of interviews by their players seems that it’s the biggest event of the year.

[Switchblade]

1 minute ago, Global.Baba said:

Replace the "k" with the "H". This is a guy who went for 100 runs on 1 occasion,almost 2. Was part of the side that got smacked for the highest odi score ever. He is just having a sir AGarkar type season. Yes he is deceptively quicker than he looks but now since teams have their attention on him, he will go down fast.

Was ordinary in the t20 tri series in Zimbabwe.

[Switchblade]

5 minutes ago, Global.Baba said:

Amir is an ordinary bowler, not important. Did Sachin prepare for Cronje/Razzaq?

[Switchblade]

First match against Pakistan becomes inconsequential if both teams beat Hong Kong as both will qualify the second match is more important to qualify for the finals.