Pakistan’s 2027 World Cup Preparations: What direction is the team taking?

[Rana]

Seen about 8 ODI’s since the CT exit, and the extended amount of ODIS since the 2023 World Cup exit.

Completely baffled at the preparations and strategy this team wants to adopt for a 50 over World Cup on conditions where the ball flies off the bat. The conditions in South Africa will favour batsmen. We know this very well. Of course Pace will also play a role but South Africa is one place where batsmen get complete value for their shots with the ball coming on very nicely.

That being said, how exactly do Pakistan plan on winning this tournament? A desperate attempt to restrict teams to a below par total of around 250-270 max, and then scrap their way??

What’s changing from the complete mismanagement of the 2023 World Cup?? Where are the signs of improvement?? Where is the urgency and desperation to make the most of the 10 overs of field restrictions and then to ensure you have an ample amount of runs before the 34 over one ball rule??

What’s the point of hiring Hesson if the strategy you want to apply is something you can get anyways with cheap Pakistani coaches like Saqlain and Misbah?

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Pakistan will probably lose many more ODIs in the next two years, and continue being a mid-tier team. They will likely persist with the same players, more or less. We might even see a few more captain and coach changes in the run-up to the World Cup.

In the World Cup, Pakistan will start poorly barely beating a team like Netherlands and getting thrashed by someone West Indies. Then, when their backs are against the wall they will go on a comeback run where they will beat better teams and get the fans excited again. This will either a) take them to the semi-finals, or b) lead to them getting eliminated on NRR or because of some team beating another team.

For a supposedly unpredictable team, Pakistan are very predictable.

 

[Kianig89]

Have we identified the players to take us in 2027WC, or we will rely on Sahibzadas and Usmans to bail us out ?

 

[DeadlyVenom]

I think the current LOIs are being treated as a mild inconvenience until the T20 world cup is out of the way. Most of the ODI tactics are the same as T20 just with some different faces

 

[Rana]

I think the current LOIs are being treated as a mild inconvenience until the T20 world cup is out of the way. Most of the ODI tactics are the same as T20 just with some different faces

The tactics are the same as the 2023 World Cup so far,

It means we will lose to Italy or some low tier team in the T20 World Cup going forward?

 

[Rana]

One thing I will reluctanly add is this,

If you have removed Rizwan from captaincy (the right decision) because there was a clear struggle in communicating plans of team managemement and strategy with him....

Then why turn up to the next 2 games after removing him with basically the same outdated, pathetic strategy Rizwan had settled with? Why show that you are basically going to do the same thing, but the captain is not Rizwan and is someone else??

 

[Kianig89]

It seems OP is also confused, what is he implying has he sorted out the players for 2027 WC , will like to read those names

 

[Rana]

It seems OP is also confused, what is he implying has he sorted out the players for 2027 WC , will like to read those names

I’m the one confused? You are confused about football and cricket being the same sport.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

The tactics are the same as the 2023 World Cup so far,

It means we will lose to Italy or some low tier team in the T20 World Cup going forward?

I hope we can get an honest interview with Mike Hesson. I am a bit disappointed so far and want to know the reasoning behind some tactics and whether he is to blame or Aqib is still pulling strings.

 

[Rana]

I hope we can get an honest interview with Mike Hesson. I am a bit disappointed so far and want to know the reasoning behind some tactics and whether he is to blame or Aqib is still pulling strings.

What tactics are you concerned about?

There is clear confusion on Babar Azam. They seem to be on the same page concerning Rizwan.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

One thing I will reluctanly add is this,

If you have removed Rizwan from captaincy (the right decision) because there was a clear struggle in communicating plans of team managemement and strategy with him....

Then why turn up to the next 2 games after removing him with basically the same outdated, pathetic strategy Rizwan had settled with? Why show that you are basically going to do the same thing, but the captain is not Rizwan and is someone else??

Good tactics can't make up for lack of character, temperament, skill-level

 

[Usman Chadda]

I hope we can get an honest interview with Mike Hesson. I am a bit disappointed so far and want to know the reasoning behind some tactics and whether he is to blame or Aqib is still pulling strings.

Fans and media don't have the patience for us to let go of our pathetic defeatist mindset.

Fans need to stop glorifying this out-dated mindset, no matter who plays it. But we have idiots filling the stadium just to watch a player hit a few cover drives and dead-bat everything else in between.

Forget the cricket team, the fans and media have gone to the gutter aswell and I doubt our cricket recovers from here.

 

[Rana]

If the World Cup takes place tomorrow in South Africa, this is how team’s stand:

1. South Africa
2. Australia
3. India
4. New Zealand
5. England
- - - - -
Daylight

6/7/8 Pakistan/Sri Lanka/West Indies

9/10 Afghanistan/Bangladesh


We are basically nowhere! We might even lose to all 4 teams besides the top 5!

What are we doing about this??

 

[Ball Blazer]

Batters seem to be messing more than bowlers lately. Unable to put a big total. If one or two lose their wickets, the entire line-up collapses under pressure. WC27 alone, I don't think they will ever be ready for any multi-nation tournament with such a mentality.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

The ball doesn't fly off the bat at all venues in South Africa and there are those venues in Namibia and Zimbabwe to consider as well.

I don't think 335+ has been chased at any of the South African World Cup venues in their history , except for that famous 438 chase and another match at Durban - i.e. 2 matches out of all the ODIs at these venues.

At Boland Park , the scores are even lower and even 300 is a massive total there and par scores are lower.

Harare and Bulawayo are similar as well

Teams that can build their way to 330 will win all their matches.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

What tactics are you concerned about?

There is clear confusion on Babar Azam. They seem to be on the same page concerning Rizwan.

Why too many rellu kattas in T20 where we stack the team with all rounders and some don't bat or bowl?

Does he see long term future for M Harris and H Nawaz if so how does he plan to ensure that they develop as players?

How does he justify Salman Agha place in t20 format given recent performance?

Why Rizwan removed from captaincy but retained in the side?

The whole set up is confused from top to bottom and he appeared to be a honest and forthright coach before this job so I would like some answers whether this is his tactics or his hands are tied.

 

[jnaveen1980]

By the time Hesson is done with his experiments pakistan will have 11 all roundrrs, All can bowl. ALl can bat. none can field

 

[Rana]

The ball doesn't fly off the bat at all venues in South Africa and there are those venues in Namibia and Zimbabwe to consider as well.

I don't think 335+ has been chased at any of the South African World Cup venues in their history , except for that famous 438 chase and another match at Durban - i.e. 2 matches out of all the ODIs at these venues.

At Boland Park , the scores are even lower and even 300 is a massive total there and par scores are lower.

Harare and Bulawayo are similar as well

Teams that can build their way to 330 will win all their matches.

Ok, well don’t complain when you are under the pump and suddenly you have 400 on the board to chase because Butler and Brooke’s didn’t have a good outing in the previous game.

 

[TheSultan]

Personally as I’ve said a few times. Hesson has blinked first.

He’s caved in to a lot pressure, the approach is now neither here nor there.

He has sent a very poor message by continuing to drop Hassan Nawaz.

The batting is literally being propped up at times by M Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf.

The team is on a road to nowhere, just as it was for the 2023 WC and 2025 CT.

If we are competitive at all, it will be because our bowling (which in itself isn’t great), sometimes have their moments

 

[Dr_Bassim]

It's obvious what the tactics are.

Babar and Rizwan to anchor the side to another loss.

Blaming the bowlers for not defending 260 or 270 while Riz and Babar play at 70 SR to get to 250.

Early World Cup exit and then tell everyone this is the best we have.

I nearly forgot to add.

Have multiple convulsions as Rizwan and Babar hit their slow 50s to boost their useless averages.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Ok, well don’t complain when you are under the pump and suddenly you have 400 on the board to chase because Butler and Brooke’s didn’t have a good outing in the previous game.

Ranaji, the key is to restrict them to less than 330 . 400 won't be chased 9 times out of 10 on South African pitches or even scored while batting first.

 

[SherWaqar]

Pakistan cricket and direction? Lol!!!

 

[SherWaqar]

We will see the same bits n pieces, average joe cricketers and politics in 2027. That’s the reality.

 

[Rana]

Ranaji, the key is to restrict them to less than 330 . 400 won't be chased 9 times out of 10 on South African pitches or even scored while batting first.

But Pakistan is well on course to be served 400 by Australia, South Africa or England on these decks.

They are in no position as of yet to even think about 300-330 with their approach. They can’t do that atm on their own home roads let alone SA tracks!

 

[Savak]

A positive direction is only possible when there is abundance of quality pool of players available. The vast majority of players unfortunately are one good game followed by 7-8 poor ones. The domestic cricket structure is very substandard and not a reflective of international cricket, international players and pitches. Fix the domestic structure now and only then will you see the fruits in 5 years.

 

[BouncerGuy]

To be honest, Fakhar needs to find his feet now... Babar is out of form and he might get dropped as well soon so no questions needed to be asked about him...

Our lower order cannot have Hussain talat type nobodies. Need to find solid players, maybe kamran ghulam?

Bowling has been mediocre... Can we trust Naseem??? NAY... move on from him as well... I will give a chance too Salman Mirza in next series. Wasim jr needs to play every game as well.

 

[Kianig89]

saim
H.Nawaz
babar
rizwan
agha
nawaz
Talat
faheem
SSA
naseem
abrar
========
Hesson should buck up H.Nawaz plenty of batting to come

 

[Rana]

I think we’ve found our method,

Bowl first, restrict teams to 150. Chase in 30 overs with zero scoreboard pressure.

@Kianig89

 

[Kianig89]

I think we’ve found our method,

Bowl first, restrict teams to 150. Chase in 30 overs with zero scoreboard pressure.

@Kianig89

Everyday is not Sunday

 

[RyanRyan10]

I think we’ve found our method,

Bowl first, restrict teams to 150. Chase in 30 overs with zero scoreboard pressure.

@Kianig89

That's parking the bus version of cricket

we should thank @Kianig89 for making us in understanding this.

 

[jamie smith fan]

saim
H.Nawaz
babar
rizwan
agha
nawaz
Talat
faheem
SSA
naseem
abrar
========
Hesson should buck up H.Nawaz plenty of batting to come

Left reading after seeing riz at 4.
Riz should bat at 6.
4 is the most imp position in ODIs and u cant a tuk tuk legside hack batting there

 

[Kianig89]

Left reading after seeing riz at 4.
Riz should bat at 6.
4 is the most imp position in ODIs and u cant a tuk tuk legside hack batting there

Why not kick Rizwan out of team and play one of Usman, Rohail or Haseebullah, that way team will have more flexibility

 

[jamie smith fan]

Why not kick Rizwan out of team and play one of Usman, Rohail or Haseebullah, that way team will have more flexibility

If we play haseebullah he has to open,usman is useless and rohail has a poor list A record.
Rizwan is ur best wk bat in odis and tests but at 4 there should be a proper batter who can bat at a sr of 90+.
Riz should either open or play at 6

 

[jamie smith fan]

Riz
Saim
KG
Agha
Talat
???
???
Nawaz
Ssa
Naseem
Abrar

 

[The Bald Eagle]

First we need a QDK level wicketkeeper with quick hands and excellent batting

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Riz
Saim
KG
Agha
Talat
???
???
Nawaz
Ssa
Naseem
Abrar

So bad KG has been dumped

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Fakhar Zaman
Sahibzada Farhan (wk)
Saim Ayub
Babar Azam (K)
Salman Agha
Hassan Nawaz
Mohammad Nawaz
Faheem Ashraf
Naseem Shah
Shaheen Shah Afridi (c)
Abrar Ahmed

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Fakhar Zaman
Sahibzada Farhan (wk)
Saim Ayub
Babar Azam (K)
Salman Agha
Hassan Nawaz
Mohammad Nawaz
Faheem Ashraf
Naseem Shah
Shaheen Shah Afridi (c)
Abrar Ahmed

Is it you YTB?? Seems like someone has hacked your DP

 

[Stewie]

Personally as I’ve said a few times. Hesson has blinked first.

He’s caved in to a lot pressure, the approach is now neither here nor there.

He has sent a very poor message by continuing to drop Hassan Nawaz.

The batting is literally being propped up at times by M Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf.

The team is on a road to nowhere, just as it was for the 2023 WC and 2025 CT.

If we are competitive at all, it will be because our bowling (which in itself isn’t great), sometimes have their moments

I have never seen HASAN nawaz score. Using his dismissal as the sole measure for poor decision making is ridiculous.

 

[Stewie]

If we keep politics aside and allow for a 14-15 players to cement their spots and continue till then I think we have a genuine good team.

I feel we have all the ingredients. We have quick scorers at the top (Farhan, Saim, Fakhar) steady batsmen in the middle (Babar and Rizwan), we have the spinners and the fast bowling needs adjustment, we need to reconsider playing Rauf and naseem and identify others who can replace them. There is no shortage, we have wasim, Mira looked good, etc.
The middle-lower middle looks weak but with extended run that can change. Our lower order and tail has shown they can score.

So I’m optimistic with some tweaking and the planning we can be a contender

 

[gazza619]

It seems OP is also confused, what is he implying has he sorted out the players for 2027 WC , will like to read those names

Easy one. OP wants Asif Ali to take back retirement and lead the side. His middle order will comprise Usman Khan, Abdul Samad, M Haris, Asif Ali & Azam Khan.

 

[gazza619]

If we keep politics aside and allow for a 14-15 players to cement their spots and continue till then I think we have a genuine good team.

I feel we have all the ingredients. We have quick scorers at the top (Farhan, Saim, Fakhar) steady batsmen in the middle (Babar and Rizwan), we have the spinners and the fast bowling needs adjustment, we need to reconsider playing Rauf and naseem and identify others who can replace them. There is no shortage, we have wasim, Mira looked good, etc.
The middle-lower middle looks weak but with extended run that can change. Our lower order and tail has shown they can score.

So I’m optimistic with some tweaking and the planning we can be a contender

If we could somehow fit Sahibzada Farhan in the ODI XI in place of the ordinary Talat, it would be a stronger side.

Plus Shadab could be back.

 

[Rana]

If we could somehow fit Sahibzada Farhan in the ODI XI in place of the ordinary Talat, it would be a stronger side.

Plus Shadab could be back.

Yes, Farhan should be at 6