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Pakistan the dark horses for the T20 World Cup in India?

The excuses seem to be already ready, I see

You know how bad the public sentiment towards Pakistan is at the moment under this fascist Modi sarkar. A slight praise of Pakistan results in accusations of treachery.

There is no way the players will be safe if they advance in the tournament in such an environment. They may even be at risk from their own local security team. So they will turn up lose and head back home to safety.

This World Cup should be held in UAE until this fascist regime changes.
 
My point is more around the fact that there may be riots if Pakistan get to the final and win. The players safety will be under threat. So to avoid that management might just ask them to not try too hard.

the only time home team saved itself from defeat because of riots by own crowd was when Pakistan was 28/3 in 14 overs against India in Karachi. All other times, no riots ever abandoned the match.
 
Given we are playing in India and there is strong anti Pakistan public opinion under this Modi regime, I think for the safety of the players and management, Pakistan will not go beyond the group stage.

hahaha.. "strong anti pakistan public opinion under Modi regime" develops only after the group stage.
What are the Modis doing till group stage? Sleeping?
 
If I was a coach of Pakistan I’d tell my players to lose to India on purpose to make the Indian public happy. Afterwards go on to win the tournament.

pink slip for you then.
 
hahaha.. "strong anti pakistan public opinion under Modi regime" develops only after the group stage.
What are the Modis doing till group stage? Sleeping?

These are some of the lamest excuses you'll ever hear. And i'm really going gentle with the word gentle.
 
You know how bad the public sentiment towards Pakistan is at the moment under this fascist Modi sarkar. A slight praise of Pakistan results in accusations of treachery.

There is no way the players will be safe if they advance in the tournament in such an environment. They may even be at risk from their own local security team. So they will turn up lose and head back home to safety.

This World Cup should be held in UAE until this fascist regime changes.

True but I don't think it will be too serious to cause any harm
 
Pakistan should get to the semi final atleast.

At the moment i will go with this squad.

Sharjeel 50/50
Fakhar
Babar
Haider
Hafeez
malik

Rizwan
Azam khan


Shadab
Imad
Qadir
Nawaz

Shaheen
Hassan ali
Husnain
Fahim


I have picked malik due to the conditions and the experience he brings.I havent included iftikhar but he may get into the squad.We must get off to fast starts so fakhar and sharjeel should open.
 
I think there will be flat pitches for the WT20 and without a proper death over bowler things could go really ugly for Pak. They need to choose their spinning options really carefully, likes of Shadab and Imad won't work, against SENA teams spin is gonna be Pak's trump card or key differentiator if you wanna put it that way. What Pak can do with batting and fast bowling any decent team can easily match or exceed.
 
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Pakistan should get to the semi final atleast.

At the moment i will go with this squad.

Sharjeel 50/50
Fakhar
Babar
Haider
Hafeez
malik

Rizwan
Azam khan


Shadab
Imad
Qadir
Nawaz

Shaheen
Hassan ali
Husnain
Fahim


I have picked malik due to the conditions and the experience he brings.I havent included iftikhar but he may get into the squad.We must get off to fast starts so fakhar and sharjeel should open.

Nice squad, yes I think Iftikhar will get ahead Azam Khan. What about more batsmen, is there any in contention?
 
I think there will be flat pitches for the WT20 and without a proper death over bowler things could go really ugly for Pak. They need to choose their spinning options really carefully, likes of Shadab and Imad won't work, against SENA teams spin is gonna be Pak's trump card or key differentiator if you wanna put it that way. What Pak can do with batting and fast bowling any decent team can easily match or exceed.

Shaheen can nail his yorkers. He's a proper death bowler. Not sure about the rest of the Pak pacers.
 
And their fast bowlers are likely to be

Shaheen
Hasan
Amir

As an Indian fan, the Pakistani I respect the most as a player is still Amir. If he can rediscover his best form, he can be the match winner.
 
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Given Paks lack of outright good spinners right now, could ask the batsmen who can bowl to be the 5th and 6th spin options, and I’d consider Amir also (doubtful the latter will happen)

Zaman (6th bowler)
Sharjeel
Babar
Rizwan +
Hafeez (5th bowler)
Haider
AzamK
Imad
Hassan
Amir
Shaheen

Bench options: Rauf, Qadir, Malik, Dhani, Faheem, Shadab, Husnain, Maqsood

Appreciate the ground fielding won’t be amazing but it’s batting line up that packs a punch.
 
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With so many players who are in the form of their lives, it’s hard to see this team not doing well. Still, with us, you never know. We are yet to see the full strength team play together as of yet. I think the SA series coming up, and the T20 Asia Cup in Sri Lanka over the summer will be good bellwethers for where this team truly stands.
 
Nice squad, yes I think Iftikhar will get ahead Azam Khan. What about more batsmen, is there any in contention?

Azam khan gives you that back up wicket keeper option.iftikhar is competing with malik,sharjeel.

Thiers maqsood who may have a slim chance and also danish aziz but he hasnt played any games in psl same with zeeshan malik
 
Given Paks lack of outright good spinners right now, could ask the batsmen who can bowl to be the 5th and 6th spin options, and I’d consider Amir also (doubtful the latter will happen)

Zaman (6th bowler)
Sharjeel
Babar
Rizwan +
Hafeez (5th bowler)
Haider
AzamK
Imad
Hassan
Amir
Shaheen

Bench options: Rauf, Qadir, Malik, Dhani, Faheem, Shadab, Husnain, Maqsood

Appreciate the ground fielding won’t be amazing but it’s batting line up that packs a punch.

Why not give azam the gloves and rizwan in the outfield
 
Pakistan is the most disadvantaged team going into the WC.

Every single team has had players involved in the IPL except pakistan. Heck even afghan players are used to the surfaces, grounds, crowds, this would be the first time pakistani players will be in India on those surfaces, in that environment.
 
WC team

Sharjeel
Rizwan (vc)
Babar (c)
Hafeez
Haider
D.Aziz
Imad/Shadab
Hassan
Amir
Qadir
Shaheen

For SENA

Sharjeel
Rizwan (vc)
Babar (c)
Hafeez
Haider
D.Aziz
Imad/Shadab
Hassan Ali/Amir
Zahid M
Qadir
Shaheen
 
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England and Pakistan are the two favorite teams, India will choke. Aussies doesnt have that in them anymore. Pakistan has Shaheen afridi the destroyer of batsmen. Babar Azam Mr. dependable, Rizwan khan the most destructive bastmen on this era. What else is needed. And having Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali is just cherry on top.
 
Why not give azam the gloves and rizwan in the outfield

What would you say AzamK’s keeping us like? The feeling is that it would lead to a loss in value if he were to keep, as Rizwan’s glove work is very good. Rizwan could be very good in the field too, gun fielder no doubt.

I reckon Zaman/Hafeez are as good as the other ‘stock’ spinners in contention bar Imad. Qadir could come off but he has no batting pedigree compared to the two batsman.
 
Wisden’s All-time WT20I XI:

1. Chris Gayle
2. Jayawardene
3. Virat Kohli
4. Kevin Pietersen
5. Marlon Samuels
6. Michael Hussey
7. MS Dhoni (C)
8. Shahid Afridi
9. Lasith Malinga
10. Umar Gul
11. Saeed Ajmal
 
The foundations are there, can the management pick the correct eleven.
Our issue is the middle to lower order and we will need shadab to come good as the spinner.

Rizwan Babar Sharjeel Fakhar Hafeez Haider will make a really good top 5. Imad I wouldn't want coming in above 7 so you need a number 6 hitter and a number 8 hitter.
Haris and shaheen will be 10 and 11, so there are only a few holes to plug.

Can the likes of Asif Ali, shadab and faheem lift their games .
And then misbah will want to get ifti into the eleven too :(
 
Wisden’s All-time WT20I XI:

1. Chris Gayle
2. Jayawardene
3. Virat Kohli
4. Kevin Pietersen
5. Marlon Samuels
6. Michael Hussey
7. MS Dhoni (C)
8. Shahid Afridi
9. Lasith Malinga
10. Umar Gul
11. Saeed Ajmal

This is very close to my XI. Well done.
 
Interestingly not much activity on this thread by Pakistanis. I think generally we are averse to hoping too much as we have collectively been let down a bit too much in recent times.

Our number 1 T20 ranking has also slipped to 4th, and there is no telling whether some of the batsmen who are in form against England B, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, SA B, and PSL bowling attacks will continue their form 8 months from now against the A grade attacks who have been practicing in India already with the IPL.

No visas for Pakistani fans might mean that 90% of the crowds in WT20 will be hostile, meaning even if the crowd is disciplined (I would believe so), there will silence when Pak players hit a boundary or take a wicket and cheering when Pakistan is on the backfoot.

I think there are far too many factors stacked against us, which means it is not just incredibly unlikely, but really improbable that Pakistan can go all the way. This tournament will be tougher for us than CT17 was, in my opinion.
 
Wisden’s All-time WT20I XI:

1. Chris Gayle
2. Jayawardene
3. Virat Kohli
4. Kevin Pietersen
5. Marlon Samuels
6. Michael Hussey
7. MS Dhoni (C)
8. Shahid Afridi
9. Lasith Malinga
10. Umar Gul
11. Saeed Ajmal

Why Dhoni? Specialist captain maybe
 
England and Pakistan are the two favorite teams, India will choke. Aussies doesnt have that in them anymore. Pakistan has Shaheen afridi the destroyer of batsmen. Babar Azam Mr. dependable, Rizwan khan the most destructive bastmen on this era. What else is needed. And having Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali is just cherry on top.

I get this is sarcasm, but if Pak get to knock out stages, they probably need to avoid India who they always choke against. (Or is something more sinister than that?)

Hafeez would need a cushion before he comes in to bat because if needs to rescue the innings, he'll be nowhere to be seen being one of the biggest chokers and mental midgets in the team.
 
Wisden’s All-time WT20I XI:

1. Chris Gayle
2. Jayawardene
3. Virat Kohli
4. Kevin Pietersen
5. Marlon Samuels
6. Michael Hussey
7. MS Dhoni (C)
8. Shahid Afridi
9. Lasith Malinga
10. Umar Gul
11. Saeed Ajmal

Dhoni does not belong there at all. Has 2 50s in his entire career of 98 matches. Has a very average strike rate for a finisher
 
England and Pakistan are the two favorite teams, India will choke. Aussies doesnt have that in them anymore. Pakistan has Shaheen afridi the destroyer of batsmen. Babar Azam Mr. dependable, Rizwan khan the most destructive bastmen on this era. What else is needed. And having Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali is just cherry on top.

It's Mohammed Rizwan honey......too much sarcasm main aap kahi kho gaye
 
I think there are far too many factors stacked against us, which means it is not just incredibly unlikely, but really improbable that Pakistan can go all the way.

Or to rephrase, Pakistan will be cornered tigers?
 
Or to rephrase, Pakistan will be cornered tigers?

Haha. I think even more cornered than 1992 and 2017. The question is, can we be even bigger tigers?

I love daydreaming, but it just seems really unlikely.
 
Haha. I think even more cornered than 1992 and 2017. The question is, can we be even bigger tigers?

I love daydreaming, but it just seems really unlikely.

As unlikely as it maybe..... It'll be an absolute stuff of legends if Pakistan somehow manages to win the whole thing and lifts the trophy at the Narendra Modi stadium. :))

The sheer magnitude of that event (if it does occur) will be felt for decades to come.
 
As unlikely as it maybe..... It'll be an absolute stuff of legends if Pakistan somehow manages to win the whole thing and lifts the trophy at the Narendra Modi stadium. :))

The sheer magnitude of that event (if it does occur) will be felt for decades to come.

Pretty much the same for even the 2023 world cup.
 
Haha. I think even more cornered than 1992 and 2017. The question is, can we be even bigger tigers?

I love daydreaming, but it just seems really unlikely.

To be brutally honest in this format no team is favorite by a considerable margin, nor any of them are out of the equation completely. Yes India, Eng are favorite on paper and that's about it. We have been consistently chocking in big tournaments for some time now while England can be trapped on a spinning web if the pitch doesn't suite their batting style. Hell even BD can upset a few SENA teams if they get them on a slow low type pitches.

Only reason why I don't see much chances of Pakistan is because you have a considerably mellow batting as far as t20s are concerned. Likes of Babar and Rizwan may be consistent run getters but doesn't have that fear factor and even hardcore Pak fans won't pin their hopes on them in case of a high scoring affair. But hey who knows, an on song Hafiz X.0 or a couple of excellent overs from Shaheen can change the complexion of the game, but can they do it consistently enough for Pak to lift the trophy?
 
i hope this thread is sarcasm? seems to be non pakistan fans hyping up pak chances so that when the expected happens they can return and try and gloat... pakistan are dark horses in the same way west indies are.... its a knockout tournament and anyone can win it but its very unlikely pak will win and making the semis should be the aim tbh...

whilst our batting looks improved from recent times it still lacks the consistent firepower imo to be successful and as a team could easily br restricted to 130/140 on any given day and whilst shaheen and hassan are fantastic bowlers on their day we lack the t20 'star' bowlers we had in 2009 to act as an equaliser
 
As unlikely as it maybe..... It'll be an absolute stuff of legends if Pakistan somehow manages to win the whole thing and lifts the trophy at the Narendra Modi stadium. :))

The sheer magnitude of that event (if it does occur) will be felt for decades to come.

Lmao I actually wanted to post this in the original post but thought it would be beyond the ambit of cricket and stopped short of posting it.

But when the name change happened, this was the first thought that occurred to me. Surely it must be one of the biggest self goals. Imagine Pakistan winning at least one of the 2021 WT20 or the 2023 WC final and parading with Pak flags at the Shri Narendra Modi stadium. Now imagine this happening while beating India in the final. It's almost prophetic and I'm pretty sure that this is going to happen:)))
 
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To be brutally honest in this format no team is favorite by a considerable margin, nor any of them are out of the equation completely. Yes India, Eng are favorite on paper and that's about it. We have been consistently chocking in big tournaments for some time now while England can be trapped on a spinning web if the pitch doesn't suite their batting style. Hell even BD can upset a few SENA teams if they get them on a slow low type pitches.

Only reason why I don't see much chances of Pakistan is because you have a considerably mellow batting as far as t20s are concerned. Likes of Babar and Rizwan may be consistent run getters but doesn't have that fear factor and even hardcore Pak fans won't pin their hopes on them in case of a high scoring affair. But hey who knows, an on song Hafiz X.0 or a couple of excellent overs from Shaheen can change the complexion of the game, but can they do it consistently enough for Pak to lift the trophy?

I think with professionalism and strategy, T20s are moving towards consistency. Gone is the era where any team can upset and other on their day. Good T20 teams have very consistent methods of putting up big scores and very consistent methods of restricting runs in all phases of the game.

Look at Mumbai Indians, look at Islamabad United’s 82% win percentage while chasing, look at England’s white ball teams. We are entering a very new era of consistency in white ball cricket including in T20 cricket.

England is the first to have embraced these techniques, and India is not far behind. Pakistan is miles behind. Although Mohammad Wasim has a progressive attitude towards data usage in selection, there is no use of data in formulating team combination and strategy by phase of the game.

For example, you will see people on PP asking for Sharjeel and Fakhar to open when these guys are horrible in the powerplay by strike rate, and make up their runs in the middle overs. Trust me, our management will likely make the same mistakes.

I do not see Pakistan lifting the trophy, even if I believe the “talent” is present. Our approach is all wrong and the stars would have to align for us to win the tournament without a proper data-based strategy.

If somehow we manage to hire CricViz or some other competent data team in the next two months, I will say yes Pakistan has a chance. Right now, no.
 
I think with professionalism and strategy, T20s are moving towards consistency. Gone is the era where any team can upset and other on their day. Good T20 teams have very consistent methods of putting up big scores and very consistent methods of restricting runs in all phases of the game.

Look at Mumbai Indians, look at Islamabad United’s 82% win percentage while chasing, look at England’s white ball teams. We are entering a very new era of consistency in white ball cricket including in T20 cricket.

England is the first to have embraced these techniques, and India is not far behind. Pakistan is miles behind. Although Mohammad Wasim has a progressive attitude towards data usage in selection, there is no use of data in formulating team combination and strategy by phase of the game.

For example, you will see people on PP asking for Sharjeel and Fakhar to open when these guys are horrible in the powerplay by strike rate, and make up their runs in the middle overs. Trust me, our management will likely make the same mistakes.

I do not see Pakistan lifting the trophy, even if I believe the “talent” is present. Our approach is all wrong and the stars would have to align for us to win the tournament without a proper data-based strategy.

If somehow we manage to hire CricViz or some other competent data team in the next two months, I will say yes Pakistan has a chance. Right now, no.

Tactical Planning and analysis are parts and parcel of any modern sport. That is just basic evolution however that in no way take away the impact of on field performance and condition related factors. Sorry to disagree but this format is the ideal format for underdogs and upsets are pretty common and I stand by my statement that AFG and even BD can upset Eng in a one off game if the pitch and condition suit their style of game play and that actually may very well happen in this WT20. No amount of prior planning can take those glorious uncertainties away.

I do not watch cricket leagues so can't comment on MI or IU but my basic knowledge tells me that in a league you get to play enough matches to fine tune your strategy, in a tournament you don't have that luxury and before you know what hits you or try to pull out plan B you are out of the tournament. Unlike leagues in tournaments you don't get a chance to rectify your errors and live to fight another day. Mumbai often loses like half a dozen games before getting their strategy and selection right and then makes an insane comeback.

With all the talks about Ind and Eng being favorites a NZ can sneak in and take the title or Windies could just bulldoze every thing in sight and claim the trophy. This format itself work in its own way to minimize the gaps between teams. Reason why upsets are the rarest in test cricket and most frequent in T20s.

For Pak to reach knockouts needs to select proper spinners, you can bookmark this post that spin bowling is going to be the deciding factor in this tournament. If we actually have an Asia cup before WT20 the picture would be even clearer.

Pretty sure already has team of analysts, but as I said before in this shortest format of the game planning and analysis can only do so much.
 
Tactical Planning and analysis are parts and parcel of any modern sport. That is just basic evolution however that in no way take away the impact of on field performance and condition related factors. Sorry to disagree but this format is the ideal format for underdogs and upsets are pretty common and I stand by my statement that AFG and even BD can upset Eng in a one off game if the pitch and condition suit their style of game play and that actually may very well happen in this WT20. No amount of prior planning can take those glorious uncertainties away.

I do not watch cricket leagues so can't comment on MI or IU but my basic knowledge tells me that in a league you get to play enough matches to fine tune your strategy, in a tournament you don't have that luxury and before you know what hits you or try to pull out plan B you are out of the tournament. Unlike leagues in tournaments you don't get a chance to rectify your errors and live to fight another day. Mumbai often loses like half a dozen games before getting their strategy and selection right and then makes an insane comeback.

With all the talks about Ind and Eng being favorites a NZ can sneak in and take the title or Windies could just bulldoze every thing in sight and claim the trophy. This format itself work in its own way to minimize the gaps between teams. Reason why upsets are the rarest in test cricket and most frequent in T20s.

For Pak to reach knockouts needs to select proper spinners, you can bookmark this post that spin bowling is going to be the deciding factor in this tournament. If we actually have an Asia cup before WT20 the picture would be even clearer.

Pretty sure already has team of analysts, but as I said before in this shortest format of the game planning and analysis can only do so much.

I think you are drawing too much on your knowledge of WT20s from 2016 and before. I have a feeling that in this coming decade, you will rarely if ever see a team like Afghanistan upsetting England.

T20 cricket has evolved, and I believe it is much more predictable than before.

You are right than Mumbai has more time to finetune strategy in leagues but international teams also finetune strategy in bilaterals. WT20 is not like IPL or PSL where players are playing together for the first time after a year.

England, India will show up to the WT20 with their gameplan extremely finetuned. They will top their group (Group B) as there is a wide disparity between England, India and South Africa, Afghanistan. Contrary to your belief, Afghanistan cannot upset England because of the professionalism and data-driven approach of the England outfit. If there is an upset, it will be a 1/100 occurrence and not 30/70 as you seem to be suggesting.

Group A consists of Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and West Indies. All of these teams are less professional in their T20 outfits, and all rely on natural “talent” and age-old strategy rather than a data driven approach. For example, all of these teams have anchors (Smith, Williamson, Babar) whereas England doesn’t bother — England packs the lineup with batsmen who maximize the strike rate by phase of the game, which is all that matters as long as they have a decent average, and to hedge against a collapse England packs their bowlers with bowlers who can bat. With 11 proper options they have the ability to forego an anchor and this consistently sets them up with a big total. Islamabad United does the same thing.

These teams don’t look into matchups that much either.

To be honest, this is actually good for Pakistan as Australia, New Zealand are relatively behind England and India in this matter, but these sides have begun adopting these evolved T20 strategies and I am certain by the end of this year they’ll have refined their teams to that point, while Pakistan will not have done so.

Still, Group A is far more favorable to Pakistan than Group B is. Let’s assume we make the semis — we’ll be facing either England or India. Strictly on a team to team basis, England is the superior team between these two but we have a mental block against India as well. And it will be an Indian crowd.

Our best hope is that we face England and somehow manage a win where I would put the odds as 20/80, and hope that India chokes in the semi (presumably against Australia). If it’s a Pakistan-India final, with 100,000 spectators at Narendra Modi stadium, inna lillahi wa inna ilaahi raajioon :))
 
The team will probably be

Sharjeel
Rizwan
Babar
Hafeez
Haider
Imad
Faheem
Hasan
Shaheen
Qadir
Amir (I think they will bring him back)
 
The team will probably be

Sharjeel
Rizwan
Babar
Hafeez
Haider
Imad
Faheem
Hasan
Shaheen
Qadir
Amir (I think they will bring him back)

This is the most realistic team I’ve seen so far. And it’s a pretty good one too. Depending on the pitch, you can play an extra spinner like Zahid Mehmood instead of Amir as well. I think the only real contested spot will be Sharjeel/Fakhar. Depending on their form at the time, we can go with either one. Haider can be a solid option at #5 like he’s shown at Zalmi this year.
 
I get this is sarcasm, but if Pak get to knock out stages, they probably need to avoid India who they always choke against. (Or is something more sinister than that?)

Hafeez would need a cushion before he comes in to bat because if needs to rescue the innings, he'll be nowhere to be seen being one of the biggest chokers and mental midgets in the team.


India is good in group stages not in playoffs. And yes it was sarcastic because i know my team's abilities. Or was it :afridi1
 
What would you say AzamK’s keeping us like? The feeling is that it would lead to a loss in value if he were to keep, as Rizwan’s glove work is very good. Rizwan could be very good in the field too, gun fielder no doubt.

I reckon Zaman/Hafeez are as good as the other ‘stock’ spinners in contention bar Imad. Qadir could come off but he has no batting pedigree compared to the two batsman.

Obviously its not in the same league as rizwan or safraz but it gives you an option of an extra batter if needed his keeping is ok.like you said rizwan could do same thing in the outfield.

Zaman wont be bowling in the world cup maybe 8 overs in the whole tournament.hafeez can easily bowl 2 overs a game.as for qadir hes a geuine wicket taker so his role will be different
 
Interestingly not much activity on this thread by Pakistanis. I think generally we are averse to hoping too much as we have collectively been let down a bit too much in recent times.

Our number 1 T20 ranking has also slipped to 4th, and there is no telling whether some of the batsmen who are in form against England B, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, SA B, and PSL bowling attacks will continue their form 8 months from now against the A grade attacks who have been practicing in India already with the IPL.

No visas for Pakistani fans might mean that 90% of the crowds in WT20 will be hostile, meaning even if the crowd is disciplined (I would believe so), there will silence when Pak players hit a boundary or take a wicket and cheering when Pakistan is on the backfoot.

I think there are far too many factors stacked against us, which means it is not just incredibly unlikely, but really improbable that Pakistan can go all the way. This tournament will be tougher for us than CT17 was, in my opinion.

If they pick the right squad/team they can easily get to semi final and for that to happen we must play 2 aggressive openers at the top 180 will be par with flat wickets
 
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