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Pakistan's T20I pace attack for ICC T20 World Cup 2024

I think Naseem can make better use of the new ball compared to Amir.

We have hardly seen Amir swing the ball early on so its better to use him with the old ball.
Unfortunately have too many new ball bowlers currently. Even Imad Wasim is mainly effective with the newer ball. We need some variety for the death.
 
Unfortunately have too many new ball bowlers currently. Even Imad Wasim is mainly effective with the newer ball. We need some variety for the death.
And unfortunately we perform just as poorly in the death overs as we perform well with the new ball.

Only Amir is the one one who can save some runs at the end of the inning we cant expect much from shaheen and naseem.
 
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Shaheen - (New Ball + Middle Overs)
Naseem - (New Ball + Death)
Amir - (First Change + Death)

This is how I would approach it.

If Shaheen badly struggles with the new ball then you swap in Amir. It's a very good pace attack and you will also have Rauf on the bench as an option if Amir falls apart.
 
Shaheen - (New Ball + Middle Overs)
Naseem - (New Ball + Death)
Amir - (First Change + Death)

This is how I would approach it.

If Shaheen badly struggles with the new ball then you swap in Amir. It's a very good pace attack and you will also have Rauf on the bench as an option if Amir falls apart.
Yeah good combination but I think Babar will bring Naseem as the first change bowler.

However I think Amir should be in that place because Naseem can swing the new ball both ways. In the recent past we have seen Amir hardly getting any swing early on so there's no point in wasting the new ball on him.
 
Shaheen, Naseem, Amir is a pretty great T20 pace attack to have. All three are excellent new ball bowlers and more than capable at the death too. If you're looking for another pace option than you can play Haris Rauf and use him exclusively in the death overs.
 
Combo of Shaheen, Amir and Naseem is something you would dream of as a team. If all three of them click then there is no one stopping them. I would start with Naseem and Shaheen with Amir coming in as first change. Naseem has been unplayable with new ball and should be the one bowling in that phase.
 
Yeah good combination but I think Babar will bring Naseem as the first change bowler.

However I think Amir should be in that place because Naseem can swing the new ball both ways. In the recent past we have seen Amir hardly getting any swing early on so there's no point in wasting the new ball on him.

I agree and I have the same assessment of Naseem.

He looks threatening with the new ball and offers a right-left combo with Shaheen. Let Amir handle the duties with the older ball with his experience and variations.
 
While we are discussing the pace attack. Look at the bowling stats for Shaheen, Haris, Naseem and Amir for WT20s.

Shaheen Afridi
1713597744432.png

Haris Rauf

1713597774891.png

Naseem Shah
1713597837450.png

Mohammad Amir
1713597870782.png

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Even though a small sample size for Naseem Shah, he is economical as well but not the most proficient when it comes to taking wickets. Haris Rauf on the other hand has a very similar WT20 stats to Mohammad Amir.
 
While we are discussing the pace attack. Look at the bowling stats for Shaheen, Haris, Naseem and Amir for WT20s.

Shaheen Afridi
View attachment 143290

Haris Rauf

View attachment 143291

Naseem Shah
View attachment 143292

Mohammad Amir
View attachment 143293

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Even though a small sample size for Naseem Shah, he is economical as well but not the most proficient when it comes to taking wickets. Haris Rauf on the other hand has a very similar WT20 stats to Mohammad Amir.
Shaheen, AMir and Haris are all wicket taking bowlers but considering the form of Haris Rauf, I guess he should not be in the squad for now.
 
While we are discussing the pace attack. Look at the bowling stats for Shaheen, Haris, Naseem and Amir for WT20s.

Shaheen Afridi
View attachment 143290

Haris Rauf

View attachment 143291

Naseem Shah
View attachment 143292

Mohammad Amir
View attachment 143293

-------------------------------------------

Even though a small sample size for Naseem Shah, he is economical as well but not the most proficient when it comes to taking wickets. Haris Rauf on the other hand has a very similar WT20 stats to Mohammad Amir.
Thank you for posting all of the numbers side by side.

I think Naseem got a little bit unlucky in the last T20 WC. Even in the final, I remember him very close to getting wickets on multiple occasions during his spell. Also, since his ODI debut, out of all the bowlers in the world, he has the 6th best average and 8th best SR. I think his and Shaheen’s spot is all but confirmed.

Unless we try to go for a 4th pacer, Rauf, Amir, Abbas Afridi I think will all be competing for the spot. It seems the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction when discussing Haris. He may not be the best ODI bowler, but he still remains great in the T20 format and still one of the best overall death bowlers in Pakistan. Even in the last ODI WC, I read somewhere that Rauf had the 2nd lowest economy in the death overs in the entire tournament (the first was Bumrah). Amir is also quite a capable death bowler, but he hasn’t played intentional cricket in so long we have to find out if he still has it in him.
 
Thank you for posting all of the numbers side by side.

I think Naseem got a little bit unlucky in the last T20 WC. Even in the final, I remember him very close to getting wickets on multiple occasions during his spell. Also, since his ODI debut, out of all the bowlers in the world, he has the 6th best average and 8th best SR. I think his and Shaheen’s spot is all but confirmed.

Unless we try to go for a 4th pacer, Rauf, Amir, Abbas Afridi I think will all be competing for the spot. It seems the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction when discussing Haris. He may not be the best ODI bowler, but he still remains great in the T20 format and still one of the best overall death bowlers in Pakistan. Even in the last ODI WC, I read somewhere that Rauf had the 2nd lowest economy in the death overs in the entire tournament (the first was Bumrah). Amir is also quite a capable death bowler, but he hasn’t played intentional cricket in so long we have to find out if he still has it in him.
I think the team can play all these 4 pacers. This is why I also think if the team can fit in Shadab at no. 4 or 5. We will not only have a good middle order player who can hit against spinners but it will also free up a spot down the order which can be used for an extra bowler or a hitter.
 
I think the team can play all these 4 pacers. This is why I also think if the team can fit in Shadab at no. 4 or 5. We will not only have a good middle order player who can hit against spinners but it will also free up a spot down the order which can be used for an extra bowler or a hitter.
Shaheen + Naseem + Amir + Rauf with Shadab as our main spinner and Iftikhar + Saim chipping in when needed would be a brilliant T20 attack as long as it does not make the batting too shallow.
 
Whichever attack Pakistan chooses will be highly rated by fans and pundits alike before they go into the tournament.
 
Whichever attack Pakistan chooses will be highly rated by fans and pundits alike before they go into the tournament.
Our bowling attack was the reason we did alright in the previous two T20WCs. I expect this bowling attack to keep us in the tournament in this World Cup aswell, but the batting will certainly let us down as always.

Shaheen, Naseem, Amir/Rauf, Shadab, Imad and Abrar is a very decent bowling attack.
 
Shaheen + Naseem + Amir + Rauf with Shadab as our main spinner and Iftikhar + Saim chipping in when needed would be a brilliant T20 attack as long as it does not make the batting too shallow.
I would be open to something like this.

1. Saim
2. Haris / Rizwan / Usman
3. Babar
4. Fakhar
5. Shadab
6. Azam / Haris / Imad
7. Iftikhar
8. Shaheen
9. Amir
10. Naseem
11. Rauf / Zaman / Abrar / Mir
 
A look at Pakistan’s prospective fast bowling options ahead of the Men’s T20 World Cup

Teeming with fiery pace and prodigious swing, Pakistan's fast bowling stocks leave the selectors spoilt for choice ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

With an almost never-ending supply of pace resources at its disposal, Pakistan will look to settle onto their best possible combinations before the global mega event in the United States and West Indies.

While Shaheen Afridi is all set to take the new ball, there’s competition aplenty for the remaining spots.

Alook at the prime candidates for Pakistan’s fast bowling lineup ahead of the T20 World Cup:

Naseem Shah

The highly-touted Naseem Shah’s absence was deeply felt during Pakistan’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, where Pakistan failed to reach the knockout stage. He should be among the first to join the team sheet along with Shaheen in the pace department. An ability to move the ball at a high pace regularly throughout the innings made Naseem a prized possession in the setup.

Having recovered from the shoulder injury he incurred during last year’s Asia Cup, Naseem will be raring to compensate for the lost time and deliver for Pakistan in the white-ball format.

Scott Edwards falls after attempting the scoop against Naseem Shah during Netherlands v Pakistan in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022.

After making his comeback he picked up from where he’d left getting 15 wickets at 22.2 in the PSL, and has been among wickets against New Zealand at home too. Pakistan selectors would hope that the pacer gets ample match practice over the next few weeks.

Mohammad Amir

Once considered the heir apparent to the legacy of swing kings Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, Mohammad Amir suffered from a start-stop career, which has left him with merely 52 T20Is to his credit in a 15-year journey as an international cricketer.

However, his whippy pace and nippy swing are still quite a daunting prospect as witnessed by the batters in T20 leagues around the world, and more recently the New Zealand batters during their tour of Pakistan.

Pakistan's Mohammad Amir, perhaps better known for his skill with fuller length deliveries, delivered a hostile opening over in the 2009 ICC Men's T20 World Cup final, setting Sri Lanka back with pace and bounce.

An international return at 32 isn’t easy, but Amir is no stranger to comebacks. And with his propensity to shine in ICC tournaments, as evidenced by his presence in Pakistan’s last two ICC title-winning squads, the left-arm pacer can boost his side towards another successful title run.

Haris Rauf

Counted among Pakistan’s premium fast bowlers not long back, Haris Rauf has suffered from injury and form issues in recent times. While he has always been among wickets, his expensive economy has become a cause of concern.

A dislocated shoulder in February means that the pacer needs to achieve full fitness before he can make a comeback to the Pakistan setup.

However, Rauf’s extra pace is highly valued despite his recent absence. At his best, Rauf can provide the much-needed support to the new-ball bowlers by operating effectively in the middle and death overs.

Abbas Afridi

While Pakistan’s express pacers run away with the headlines, their medium pacers have often provided much-needed stability and control to the side. Much like his uncle Umar Gul, Abbas Afridi banks on accuracy and variations to succeed as a bowler.

Since making his international debut in New Zealand, Abbas has shown the uncanny ability to pick wickets at key stages of the game. His 13 wickets at an average of 19 in the recently concluded PSL, bolster his credentials further.

With Shahnawaz Dahani and Hasan Ali not a part of the present T20I setup, Abbas can fill in the medium pacer role in the Pakistan side in June.

Mohammad Wasim

The lanky all-rounder might lack in express pace of some of his compatriots, but can nevertheless be a tricky prospect in the shortest format of the game courtesy of the extra zip that his excess height yields.

Despite a lackluster PSL 2024 with merely nine wickets at an average of 33 with an economy closing in on 10, Wasim is still dangerous on surfaces that allow a bit of carry. This was well and truly on display during the last T20 World Cup, wherein he picked six scalps in Perth at an average of 6.5.

Zaman Khan

With a slinging action reminiscent of Sri Lanka’s legendary pacer Lasith Malinga, Zaman Khan’s unique bowling style makes him a prized possession in the Pakistan ranks.

His raw pace mixed with a difficult-to-read action can trouble the batters. With just nine T20Is under his belt, Zaman is inexperienced but can prove to be the X-factor should Pakistan consider him for the T20 World Cup.

Hasan Ali

Though Hasan Ali last featured in the Pakistan T20I colours, all the way back in 2022 and is presently trading his wares in the English county setup, a surprise comeback can never be ruled out.

A valuable medium pacer who can be handy with the willow and on the field, Hasan has the added advantage of having featured in a number of ICC events. The last of these came in the Men’s Cricket World Cup last year, where Hasan was recalled after an year’s absence from ODI cricket.

ICC
 
A look at Pakistan’s prospective fast bowling options ahead of the Men’s T20 World Cup

Teeming with fiery pace and prodigious swing, Pakistan's fast bowling stocks leave the selectors spoilt for choice ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

With an almost never-ending supply of pace resources at its disposal, Pakistan will look to settle onto their best possible combinations before the global mega event in the United States and West Indies.

While Shaheen Afridi is all set to take the new ball, there’s competition aplenty for the remaining spots.

Alook at the prime candidates for Pakistan’s fast bowling lineup ahead of the T20 World Cup:

Naseem Shah

The highly-touted Naseem Shah’s absence was deeply felt during Pakistan’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, where Pakistan failed to reach the knockout stage. He should be among the first to join the team sheet along with Shaheen in the pace department. An ability to move the ball at a high pace regularly throughout the innings made Naseem a prized possession in the setup.

Having recovered from the shoulder injury he incurred during last year’s Asia Cup, Naseem will be raring to compensate for the lost time and deliver for Pakistan in the white-ball format.

Scott Edwards falls after attempting the scoop against Naseem Shah during Netherlands v Pakistan in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022.

After making his comeback he picked up from where he’d left getting 15 wickets at 22.2 in the PSL, and has been among wickets against New Zealand at home too. Pakistan selectors would hope that the pacer gets ample match practice over the next few weeks.

Mohammad Amir

Once considered the heir apparent to the legacy of swing kings Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, Mohammad Amir suffered from a start-stop career, which has left him with merely 52 T20Is to his credit in a 15-year journey as an international cricketer.

However, his whippy pace and nippy swing are still quite a daunting prospect as witnessed by the batters in T20 leagues around the world, and more recently the New Zealand batters during their tour of Pakistan.

Pakistan's Mohammad Amir, perhaps better known for his skill with fuller length deliveries, delivered a hostile opening over in the 2009 ICC Men's T20 World Cup final, setting Sri Lanka back with pace and bounce.

An international return at 32 isn’t easy, but Amir is no stranger to comebacks. And with his propensity to shine in ICC tournaments, as evidenced by his presence in Pakistan’s last two ICC title-winning squads, the left-arm pacer can boost his side towards another successful title run.

Haris Rauf

Counted among Pakistan’s premium fast bowlers not long back, Haris Rauf has suffered from injury and form issues in recent times. While he has always been among wickets, his expensive economy has become a cause of concern.

A dislocated shoulder in February means that the pacer needs to achieve full fitness before he can make a comeback to the Pakistan setup.

However, Rauf’s extra pace is highly valued despite his recent absence. At his best, Rauf can provide the much-needed support to the new-ball bowlers by operating effectively in the middle and death overs.

Abbas Afridi

While Pakistan’s express pacers run away with the headlines, their medium pacers have often provided much-needed stability and control to the side. Much like his uncle Umar Gul, Abbas Afridi banks on accuracy and variations to succeed as a bowler.

Since making his international debut in New Zealand, Abbas has shown the uncanny ability to pick wickets at key stages of the game. His 13 wickets at an average of 19 in the recently concluded PSL, bolster his credentials further.

With Shahnawaz Dahani and Hasan Ali not a part of the present T20I setup, Abbas can fill in the medium pacer role in the Pakistan side in June.

Mohammad Wasim

The lanky all-rounder might lack in express pace of some of his compatriots, but can nevertheless be a tricky prospect in the shortest format of the game courtesy of the extra zip that his excess height yields.

Despite a lackluster PSL 2024 with merely nine wickets at an average of 33 with an economy closing in on 10, Wasim is still dangerous on surfaces that allow a bit of carry. This was well and truly on display during the last T20 World Cup, wherein he picked six scalps in Perth at an average of 6.5.

Zaman Khan

With a slinging action reminiscent of Sri Lanka’s legendary pacer Lasith Malinga, Zaman Khan’s unique bowling style makes him a prized possession in the Pakistan ranks.

His raw pace mixed with a difficult-to-read action can trouble the batters. With just nine T20Is under his belt, Zaman is inexperienced but can prove to be the X-factor should Pakistan consider him for the T20 World Cup.

Hasan Ali

Though Hasan Ali last featured in the Pakistan T20I colours, all the way back in 2022 and is presently trading his wares in the English county setup, a surprise comeback can never be ruled out.

A valuable medium pacer who can be handy with the willow and on the field, Hasan has the added advantage of having featured in a number of ICC events. The last of these came in the Men’s Cricket World Cup last year, where Hasan was recalled after an year’s absence from ODI cricket.

ICC
ICC being very generous.
 
LOL...included Hasan Ali. Very generous for him.
Hasan ali and rauf that's why I was saying generous.

It's ICC so they obviously have to be nice and can't trash talk players like I do.

But they included a few players who likely won't feature for Pakistan ever again.

Rauf provs is done for good. Hasan ali is 100% done for good
 
Shaheen, Naseem and Amir should be the first choice in the pace attack with Hasan Ali and Haris Rauf as the 4th and 5th seam bowling options.
 
They will definitely go with Naseem,Shaheen and Amir as the 3 fast bowlers.the forth bowling position will be between Rauf,Imad and abrar.Shadab makes the xi.
 
Not doing anything of note for Pakistan in the World Cup yet

qfVi61Z.png
 
This pace attack is all hype and no-show so far. Amir bowled the worst over of him career at such an important stage of the game. It was a bad luck? I guess not. He bowled like club level player who is just throwing the ball hoping to fall on the right spot.

Hariss's over was also bad no doubts about it. He is good death over bowler, at least that is what everybody thinks about him.
 
Best powerplay figures for Pakistan bowling attack in T20Is

6/26 vs AUS, 2018
5/17 vs NZ, 2010
5/25 vs WI, 2016
5/32 vs IRE, 2024
5/53 vs SA, 2013
 
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