Pakistan's bowling strategy for the ICC World Cup 2023

[Extra_Cover]

The recent Asia Cup and the follow up warm up games have exposed quite a few concerns that we have in our bowling unit. Add to that injury to Naseem and we have a very pertinent problem. What Pakistan needs is to have Plan A in place and if it doesn't work then deviate to Plan B, C or simply quick thinking in the middle.

I'm assuming we would play 3 seamers (Shaheen, Haris and Hasan) followed by Shadab and Nawaz. In situations where we are bowling first we should ensure that we chose correct set of bowlers to opposition batters.

Firstly Shaheen should only bowl 4 overs first up to exploit any swing. Any extravagant swing would mean he gets further couple of overs first up. We need Shaheen to bowl 3 overs in middle and 3 at death at max. This is the best way to utilise our best bowler.

Hasan is absolutely terrible but he can have some saving grace at the start with new ball. Therefore we should bowl 7 overs from Hasan right at the start. If he has a good day then we can have him bowl remaining 3 in the middle overs.

Haris Rauf is struggling big time too. He should only bowl 3 as first change and look to bowl predominantly in middle overs i.e. post 30 overs. He will be our death bowler along with Shaheen so lets hope for the best.

Shadab should come into the attack as early as 10th over and ensure he bowls 8 overs leading up to 30 over mark and then should bowl 2 more after 40 overs when 5 fielders outside are allowed.

Nawaz can be bought in even earlier than Shadab potentially with new ball if our opening bowlers are being taken apart. Ideally best use case of Nawaz is post 15th over till 35th over to tighten the scoring rate.

Iftikhar is a very under rated bowler. He should be used smartly and should be bowling between 25-40 over mark. Also Ifti was kind of decent against India in Asia Cup when we were being taken apart. He has a very good yorker so can be used at death if Shaheen and Haris Rauf are struggling.

Overall our bowling resources look very thin and we are heavily dependent on Shaheen upfront for inroads. I hope the easy games up front can give necessary confidence to our bowlers going into games with India and Australia.

 

[7sins]

Hyderabad will be a graveyard for all bowlers not only Hyderabad but also Bengaluru, wankhede stadium too. May be in world cup main matches, pitches will be a bit different from warm up matches.

 

[hassan918]

Pakistan likely to go with Shaheen, Haris, Hasan, Shadab, Nawaz and Iftikhar. Shaheen and Hasan are going to take the new ball.

 

[Saj]

The concern is the ability to take wickets.

Shaheen will, Rauf can at times, but what about the rest of them?

Too many defensive and out of form options with the ball it seems.

 

[Savak]

The concern is the ability to take wickets.

Shaheen will, Rauf can at times, but what about the rest of them?

Too many defensive and out of form options with the ball it seems.

This is what happens when you put all eggs in the same basket and don't develop your bench strength, rotate players and have competition for spots in the team. India's approach and planning of continuously resting Rohit, Kohli, Pandya, Shami, Siraj and ko is now paying big dividends because they have a hungry, experienced bench strength and every player knows if they don't deliver, someone else will take the opportunity with both hands.

 

[shariqnoor]

David Warner spun the ball more in his two overs than Shadab and Nawaz have done all their careers. Pakistan's spin attack is as good as an ejection button in a helicopter.

 

[TheSultan]

Hassan Ali somewhat bowled a few decent deliveries - I am reaching here, but trying to see just how some of our bowlers can get through unscathed.
Maybe let Hassan bowl the bulk of his overs with the new ball. The downside to that is if (as expected) most teams will go hard early on, he’ll wilt as he normally does under attack.

Other option is to open with a spinner. Again I’m reaching because our spinners are 3rd class too.

Im running out of options here. I can’t believe we didn’t pick a specialist new ball bowler.

Unfortunately Babar chose his “favoured” team, he’ll have to live with it now.

It’s a mess, it really is. Even Netherlands could score 350+ against us

 

[chinaman00]

Pakistan simply does not have any bowling options that can take wickets and put the opposition under pressure. This is historic screw-up by the selectors and Babar. I can not wait to see how this bowling attack gets destroyed in this World Cup.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

i think they must go with 2 pacers and 3 spinners combination along with 2 more part time spinners.

because one thing is for sure that pacers are going to get thrashed on these highway wickets.

Shaheen
Haris

Usama
Shadab
Nawaz

Iftikhar
Salman

 

[kron]

i think they must go with 2 pacers and 3 spinners combination along with 2 more part time spinners.

because one thing is for sure that pacers are going to get thrashed on these highway wickets.

Shaheen
Haris

Usama
Shadab
Nawaz

Iftikhar
Salman

I like this. Sceptical on shadab and usama but that's what we have.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

3 Genuine Pacers (Shaheen, Hassan, Haris)
1 Specialist Spinner (Abrar or Usama)
2 All rounders (Shadab, Iftikhar)

This composition can do the trick for Pakistan else they will keep getting thrashed in every game and u can't chase 300+ target all of the time.

 

[hassan918]

3 Genuine Pacers (Shaheen, Hassan, Haris)
1 Specialist Spinner (Abrar or Usama)
2 All rounders (Shadab, Iftikhar)

This composition can do the trick for Pakistan else they will keep getting thrashed in every game and u can't chase 300+ target all of the time.

I would like to go with the same team that played against Sri Lanka. If I have to add Usama or Abrar in the team, I would replace Shadab instead of Nawaz.

 

[shamaan]

Against India I will only pick Nawaz or Shadab and I will play another pacer instead.

Shaheen
Wasim Jnr
Hassan Ali
Rauf
Shadab/Nawaz
Iftikhar (bowl a few overs)

 

[hassan918]

Against India I will only pick Nawaz or Shadab and I will play another pacer instead.

Shaheen
Wasim Jnr
Hassan Ali
Rauf
Shadab/Nawaz
Iftikhar (bowl a few overs)

Pakistan should go with the same attack. Wasim Jr. isn't going to be too effective against the strong batting lineup of India.

 

[shamaan]

Pakistan should go with the same attack. Wasim Jr. isn't going to be too effective against the strong batting lineup of India.

He can keep the runs down Kohli and Sharma will smash the Spinners if it doesn't turn.

 

[hassan918]

NEW DELHI: India bowlers are getting well-deserved accolades after India's thumping win over England while defending a small total in Lucknow on Sunday.

After posting a below-par 229 for 9, riding on a valiant 87 from skipper Rohit Sharma, India bowlers led by Jasprit Bumrah (3-32) and Mohammed Shami(4-22) bowled out defending champions England for 129 in 34.5 overs.

The 100-run win propelled India to top of theWorld Cup standings.

When Pakistan legend Wasim Akram heaped praise on Bumrah and Shami for their exploits in the ongoing ODI World Cup in a discussion on 'A Sports', a fan raised a question through social media, asking 'Why Pakistan bowlers cannot bowl like Jasprit Bumrah?'

Akram explained the reason while admitting that it was a very difficult question to answer.

"It's a very difficult question to answer. Bumrah is like one of a kind. Nobody in the world is bowling like Bumrah right now, same with Pakistan's bowlers," Akram said.

Getting a bit deeper about the reason for Pakistan's bowlers inability to replicate Bumrah's success, Akram said: "Our bowlers play very less longer-format cricket, while Bumrah plays Test cricket too. After comeback from injury, he is playing one-day cricket now, but he also plays Test cricket and is equally successful there. If you are not taking wickets in longer format, bowling tough lines then it becomes difficult to fox batters in ODIs too, especially during the 10-40 overs period. That's where the problem is," Akram explained.

World Cup 2023: India beat England by 100 runs, Rohit Sharma is Player of the Match

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Moin Khan mentioned about Bumrah's odd action during the debate.
"His action is also not conventional and odd, which also definitely helps him," Moin said.

Akram while agreeing with Moin, added: "To have control over deliveries with the unconventional action - bahar, ander, pace, yorker, bouncer. He's a complete bowler."

The sixth win a row has kept the unbeaten streak alive for the hosts in the tournament. India play Sri Lanka in their seventh game of the World Cup on Thursday.

Why Pakistan bowlers cannot bowl like Jasprit Bumrah? Wasim Akram explains | Cricket News - Times of India

Cricket News: India bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, have been praised for their performance in the ODI World Cup. After posting a below-par 229 f

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

 

[sweep_shot]

One of the blunders for Pakistan was playing Rauf over and over. He was easy for teams in this WC. Indian pitches do not suit bowlers like him.

I think Pakistan should go with Shaheen, Hasan, and Waseem for rest of the games.

 

[ahmadharis1]

"strategy" is a word that does not exist in Pakistan

 

[Buffet]

Strategy should be to pick 10 wickets.

 

[hassan918]

Pakistan bowling attack has looked a lot better with Mohammad Wasir Jr. in the playing XI. Pakistan may play Hasan Ali as well in place or Haris Rauf or maybe Usama Mir in the next match because he also looked good in this World Cup.