Can anyone stop Pakistan's spin quartet in T20 World Cup 2026?

[Nikhil_cric]

The PAKISTAN spin attack looks crazy good on these Lankan pitches and the inclusion of Usman Tariq has taken it to another level.

It reminds of the 2012 World T20 when Pakistan played Afridi/Ajmal/Hafeez/Raza and choked teams with quality spin.

Dominating that spin is obviously the key to beating this Pakistan side because the pace and batting aren't nearly as impressive.

Is there any batting lineup that can dominate 16 overs of such high quality spin on these slower pitches?

 

[DeadlyVenom]

It is 16 overs of spin. 16 overs of high quality spin is pushing it.

In isolation they are all ordinary bowlers.

Shadab - out of form
Nawaz - if he couldn't bat he wouldn't get in as a bowler
Usman - Apart from unconventional action, not much else
Abrar - Best of the bunch

I think they can be taken apart.

Compared to Afridi and Ajmal who were ATG T20 bowlers it is very weak.

 

[Kianig89]

OP forgot Saim Ayub the premier allrounder who can easily walk into any top side , it's basically a spin pentagon

 

[Devadwal]

Wait for 2 more day's.

The PAK spin attack looks crazy good on these Lankan pitches and the inclusion of Usman Tariq has taken it to another level.

It reminds of the 2012 World T20 when Pakistan played Afridi/Ajmal/Hafeez/Raza and choked teams with quality spin.

Dominating that spin is obviously the key to beating this Pakistan side because the pace and batting aren't nearly as impressive.

Is there any batting lineup that can dominate 16 overs of such high quality spin on these slower pitches?

 

[Hawkeye]

Dude,

Shadab is as mediocre as it gets.

Nawaz works against minnows but gets absolutely smashed by Aus/Ind.

Only Usman has some x factor, Abrar is also prone to getting hit.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

OP forgot Saim Ayub the premier allrounder who can easily walk into any top side , it's basically a spin pentagon

Spin quintet, then. I suppose you can get around 18 overs of spin from this lineup . I genuinely don't see batsmen consistently taking them on and finding success

 

[Muhammad Saad]

I am not seeing any spinning wickets this time around in Srilanka which is weird otherwise this spin pentagon will bowled every team out

 

[Kianig89]

If Pakistan batting sets up a good score , then this spin attack will defend it 9/10 times

 

[pakistani pride]

LOL Pak was very poor in T20 WC 2012.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Let's c on Sunday

 

[big_gamer007]

I doubt any team can do well against this spin attack, best bet for every team is to do decent against these guys and make 150-170 and then hope Pakistan batting collapses.

Pakistan is the second best team in these conditions, and the best team will always have pressure of playing against Pakistan, so they will always have a good chance.

 

[rpant_gabba]

It is 16 overs of spin. 16 overs of high quality spin is pushing it.

In isolation they are all ordinary bowlers.

Shadab - out of form
Nawaz - if he couldn't bat he wouldn't get in as a bowler
Usman - Apart from unconventional action, not much else
Abrar - Best of the bunch

I think they can be taken apart.

Compared to Afridi and Ajmal who were ATG T20 bowlers it is very weak.

I take issue with description of Ajmal as a bowler. he was good pitcher. He was effective when he allowed to pitch. When that went away he was not all that effective

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

 

[jnaveen1980]

In Srilankan conditions tough

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Based on the evidence of how the Indian batsmen have played Erasmus on a flat Delhi pitch with short boundaries, the PAK spinners should have the upper hand on a spinning Premadasa deck with much bigger dimensions

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

It is 16 overs of spin. 16 overs of high quality spin is pushing it.

In isolation they are all ordinary bowlers.

Shadab - out of form
Nawaz - if he couldn't bat he wouldn't get in as a bowler
Usman - Apart from unconventional action, not much else
Abrar - Best of the bunch

I think they can be taken apart.

Compared to Afridi and Ajmal who were ATG T20 bowlers it is very weak.

How is Shadab out of form? He has been bowling brilliantly since returning from injury. He bowling it slower, tossing the ball up and starting to look more and more like the Shadab of old.

Also feel like you're underrating Nawaz who was Pakistan's leading or second leading wicket-taker last year with 40+ wickets. He just took a five wicket haul against Australia a few weeks ago and has improved massively since retruning. Playing in the side as a proper all-rounder.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Dude,

Shadab is as mediocre as it gets.

Nawaz works against minnows but gets absolutely smashed by Aus/Ind.

Only Usman has some x factor, Abrar is also prone to getting hit.

Nawaz literally took a five wicket haul against Australia a couple of weeks ago

 

[Devadwal]

How is Shadab out of form? He has been bowling brilliantly since returning from injury. He bowling it slower, tossing the ball up and starting to look more and more like the Shadab of old.

Also feel like you're underrating Nawaz who was Pakistan's leading or second leading wicket-taker last year with 40+ wickets. He just took a five wicket haul against Australia a few weeks ago and has improved massively since retruning. Playing in the side as a proper all-rounder.

Nawaz hardly Bowl against India In recent Asia cup

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Nawaz literally took a five wicket haul against Australia a couple of weeks ago

I don't think brothers @Hawkeye and @DeadlyVenom have registered the changes in their bowling in the last few series

 

[Usman Chadda]

India’s trio is better in terms of quality and experience aswell.

We are probably the third best, so this thread is jumping the gun.

 

[Devadwal]

Abrar, Nawaz, and chucker Usman are all relatively weak against LHB as compared to RHB.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Yeah reminds me a bit of 2012 too. But I dunno man. Toss in Sri Lanka can play a big part too, especially in Colombo. In Kandy, I still think 160 odd can be chased down. If a good side manages to get to 150 against this attack, you can bet on the Pakistan batting imploding in the runchase. Kinda like how they did in the 2012 World Cup semi-final.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Yeah reminds me a bit of 2012 too. But I dunno man. Toss in Sri Lanka can play a big part too, especially in Colombo. In Kandy, I still think 160 odd can be chased down. If a good side manages to get to 150 against this attack, you can bet on the Pakistan batting imploding in the runchase. Kinda like how they did in the 2012 World Cup semi-final.

Yeah. Side batting first should have a significant advantage.

Side batting first and scoring 170+ will have a huge advantage because chasing under lights against spin at Premadasa has mostly been a nightmare

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

Don’t try to go gangbusters against that Pakistani spin attack from the start.

Have the discipline to wait for your chances, and the mental strength to meanwhile rotate the strike.

What we don’t need is disrespecting the bowling or letting ego make you hit out from the start.

 

[jnaveen1980]

First time bowlers always can have their say.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

How is Shadab out of form? He has been bowling brilliantly since returning from injury. He bowling it slower, tossing the ball up and starting to look more and more like the Shadab of old.

Also feel like you're underrating Nawaz who was Pakistan's leading or second leading wicket-taker last year with 40+ wickets. He just took a five wicket haul against Australia a few weeks ago and has improved massively since retruning. Playing in the side as a proper all-rounder.

I'm an advocate of Shadab being in the side but he's recent good form is small compared to his bad run. Will take time to say if he is truly back.

Not sure how much we can read into Nawaz performance against Aus. It was a nothing series. Aussies weren't interested.

It is a much lesser attack than Afridi Ajmal and the skillful Raza Hassan.

 

[Chuggy]

OP must be joking. Any quality side can handle the spin quartet of Pakistan. Pak Vs india match result will only change if Pak can control their nerves otherwise no matter who plays for them the result will be the same.

 

[Major]

Highly over rated. Its the Indians that are just going on about Usman.

Abrar is the only good spinner and the second one is Saim

 

[Kianig89]

The strength of Pakistan having quality spinners gets marginalised by Pakistan batters inability to dominate opposition spinners , so relax

 

[azimiqbal]

I think Pakistan has a massive advantage. If they can make it to the later part of the tournament, the pitches will naturally spin more from wear and tear.

but pakistan batting line up need to step up.

 

[Savak]

Pakistan's spin attack will be tested against Indian batsmen who are amongst the best against spin.

 

[Savak]

Pakistani batters have always looked clueless, frightened, scared against Kuldeep, Axar, Chakravarthy and i fear Feb 15 will be no different either.

 

[Usman Chadda]

OP must be joking. Any quality side can handle the spin quartet of Pakistan. Pak Vs india match result will only change if Pak can control their nerves otherwise no matter who plays for them the result will be the same.

I think we’ll do well against England and New Zealand, but India plays spin really well and this much hyped spin attack will be tested.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Pakistan's spin attack will be tested against Indian batsmen who are amongst the best against spin.

To be fair we are not . I have no problem with that. T20 pitches are okay if it aids spin as long as the ball comes on. If the ball also doesn't come on and turns that is where Indian team will have problem. But you don't build a side for those pitches. You build a side for fast scoring pitches. Almost every countries do that. If they are going to play on spin pitcehs they have to find a way to adapt.

 

[imranq]

other than Abrar, none of them are quality spinners on their own. They each have different skillset which is what make them better than average as a group. I like the variation but the 2 Indian's spinners clear them alone.

 

[jnaveen1980]

India lacks guys like Yusuf Pahtan down the order. The way he took down Muralitharan in the first IPL final was epic. Rinku, Axar are not you rregular hitters. They rotate strike and occasionaly when in the zone they hit.

 

[RexRex]

I take issue with description of Ajmal as a bowler. he was good pitcher. He was effective when he allowed to pitch. When that went away he was not all that effective

I heard both Ajmal and this Tariq fella graduated from Murali's spin academy.

 

[Hawkeye]

Nawaz literally took a five wicket haul against Australia a couple of weeks ago

Completely different scenario and conditions.

That was a chill series for Australia.

Look them tear us apart specially our spinners if we get to face them in this tournament. Never judge Aussies in meaningless bilaterals.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Completely different scenario and conditions.

That was a chill series for Australia.

Look them tear us apart specially our spinners if we get to face them in this tournament. Never judge Aussies in meaningless bilaterals.

It's more or less the same Australian side and we haven't really seen them play against any top teams in the tournament so far. They are expected to hammer minnows but I don't feel they have the side to make the semis this time unless South Africa and India play below their level and lose to them.

 

[Prince of Dorne]

Pakistan's spin attack will be tested against Indian batsmen who are amongst the best against spin.

Please don't say that, we were once upon a time, not anymore. I would be happier if Pak brought half a dozen one season wonder speed demons instead. You spin attack can ruin my terrace party I am hosting on the match day.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

How is Shadab out of form? He has been bowling brilliantly since returning from injury. He bowling it slower, tossing the ball up and starting to look more and more like the Shadab of old.

Also feel like you're underrating Nawaz who was Pakistan's leading or second leading wicket-taker last year with 40+ wickets. He just took a five wicket haul against Australia a few weeks ago and has improved massively since retruning. Playing in the side as a proper all-rounder.

Seen this all before. When the crunch comes Nawaz and Shadab always crumble.

 

[jnaveen1980]

It's more or less the same Australian side and we haven't really seen them play against any top teams in the tournament so far. They are expected to hammer minnows but I don't feel they have the side to make the semis this time unless South Africa and India play below their level and lose to them.

Both India and SA did play below their level in 2023 world cup. Under pressure teams can make mistakes both on and off the field (strategy). Afghanistan lost to SA purely because of pressure. They made several strategical errors.

 

[IAJ]

Although Nawaz has bowled well of late, I think he will bottle it up in a deciding game.

You never know what you get with Shadab, and Usman is just finding hia feet.

Abrar though, is class!

 

[BouncerGuy]

I don't want to give them too much importance here... Until the tournament is over, I will not put any weight on them... They need to perform well and win games for us before we try to portray them as some kind of untouchable bowling lineup.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Nah, they will be smashed.
We are winning this comfortably, Pak is levels below India in all forms of cricket.

 

[Red-Indian]

India lacks guys like Yusuf Pahtan down the order. The way he took down Muralitharan in the first IPL final was epic. Rinku, Axar are not you rregular hitters. They rotate strike and occasionaly when in the zone they hit.

Dube's getting there I think. I was very prejudiced against him for being a bits and pieces cricketer but he's really come on as a lower order hitter and spin basher.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Seen this all before. When the crunch comes Nawaz and Shadab always crumble.

Nawaz sure, but Shadab has delivered some big performances under pressure for Pakistan in the past like 2022 T20 World Cup game against South Africa and 2021 T20 World Cup semi-final.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Both India and SA did play below their level in 2023 world cup. Under pressure teams can make mistakes both on and off the field (strategy). Afghanistan lost to SA purely because of pressure. They made several strategical errors.

Still Australia's bowling this time is not really anything to write home about besides Ellis and Zampa.

 

[Justcrazy]

These are not Front line specialized bowlers.

Ajmal , hafeez , Afridi were superior quality.

 

[Syed1]

Only Abrar has quality. The rest are alrounders who are good on their day but nothing spectacular.

 

[rpant_gabba]

These are not Front line specialized bowlers.

Ajmal , hafeez , Afridi were superior quality.

Ajmal and Hafeez are good pitchers

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Imagine jinxing a bowler for a match that's already a forgone conclusion