What will be Pakistan’s probable playing 11 in the upcoming India vs. Pakistan clash? Pakistan and India are considered to be the biggest archrivals in the world of modern cricket. The rivalry between India and Pakistan on a cricket pitch can garner huge audiences. Some even claim it is a bigger sports event than the Super Bowl.
Read: India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2023 Prediction 2 September 2023
Among all the excitement, fans will anticipate playing 11 for Pakistan. While India will kickstart their campaign with this big match, Pakistan has already claimed a 238-run victory against Nepal at Multan Cricket Stadium.
Read: Pakistan Squad for Asia Cup 2023 [Announced]
The pitch is batting-friendly, giving no room for the pacers to walk. Spinners will get some help later on. How will it affect Pakistan’s selection? Let’s have a look at their probable 11
Pakistan’s probable playing 11
There seems to be no change in the squad as Pakistan will be going with the winning combination. Although many ex-cricketers have raised eyebrows over Fakhar’s form, we can presume that the management will give him a chance.
Related: India Squad for Asia Cup 2023 [ANNOUNCED]
Fakhar has performed against India in clutch matches before. He has too good of a record to get dropped.
| PAKISTAN |
|---|
| Fakhar Zaman |
| Imam-ul-Haq |
| Babar Azam |
| Mohammad Rizwan |
| Agha Salman |
| Iftikhar Ahmed |
| Shadab Khan |
| Mohammad Nawaz |
| Naseem Shah |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi |
| Haris Rauf |
Let’s break the team down and discuss each department separately.
Top-order
Fakhar is the explosive batsman that you need in the top order in ODI games. His ability to throw the ball out of the park gives you that edge in the powerplay. Imam is the cool and calm player who will anchor the innings and go bazooka in the game’s later stages.
Check: Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan Vs India Pitch report
Babar comes one down and provides the support as per the situation. He played a conventional ODI game in the Nepal game until he reached his fifty. After that, he got out when his strike rate was 130. He knows how to steer the innings.
Rizwan comes at the bay of middle and top order. His role is to play quick or build the innings per the situation.
Middle-order
Agha Salman is a proven batman from the domestic cricket. He has the experience to fulfil his role in the middle order. While Iftikhar’s role is to go kaboom in the game’s later stages. Similarly, Shadab has cemented his place in the lower middle order as a batsman who can stroke the ball outside the boundary lines. Nawaz has done a similar job for Quetta Gladiators in PSL.
Bowlers
Naseem and Shaheen know how to swing the ball and get the job done in the initial overs. All the top batters in the world know how menacing Shaheen’s bowling is in the first powerplay. His ability to swing the ball into the right-hander is what gets those first few wickets.
Naseem has tremendously improved under the mentorship of Morne Morkel. His line and length have improved, and now he knows where to hit the deck to get that swing and seam.
On the other hand, Haris Rauf offers a lot of pace and spice in the game. His speciality is mixing up the pace and confusing the batters. Not to forget his ability to take those wickets in the death overs, Haris will be crucial to stopping run chases.
But, the thing is, the pitch doesn’t support fast bowlers that much. So, the pacers will have to employ the change of pace as a strategy. Agha Salman, Nawaz, and Shahad will play a bigger role in this game.
Wicketkeeper
Pakistan has had that wicketkeeper dilemma since the greats like Moin Khan and Rashid Latif retired. But they got Rizwan as the prize, and now their problem is solved. Even in the first match, he jumped here and there like a cheetah, and no ball could go past him.
Conclusion
This was Pakistan’s probable 11 against India. There can still be some changes. Saud Shakeel may enter in place of Agha Salman. Also, they have the option of Usama Mir, who can come in for any pacer. But I highly doubt Pakistan will change their winning combination. Whatever happens, this is going to be an interesting match to witness.