Your Pakistan wildcard picks for the 2023 World Cup

[Kroll]

Outside of the core group and likely selections, who are your wildcard picks that could do well?

Pakistan has a history of guys coming in from the blue and taking things by storm. Who could be the guy(s) this time? Saim Ayub, Mo Harris?

Omair Yousuf tearing it up in domestics at the moment or can we also go back to the old timers like Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir?

 

[Double Trouble]

Aamir Jamal could easily be a wild card as he can bowl as well as bat down the order.

Usama Mir is a must in the starting 11.

Any injuries to the openers then Sharjeel should be given a go.

 

[shamaan]

Pretty much all basis are covered so thier won't be able suprise picks.

 

[shamaan]

Aamir Jamal could easily be a wild card as he can bowl as well as bat down the order.

Usama Mir is a must in the starting 11.

Any injuries to the openers then Sharjeel should be given a go.

Thiers 1% chance of Sharjeel making the 15.

 

[gazza619]

M Haris is a no brainer

He is in my playing XI

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Mohammad Amir - if Shaheen gets injured again, do we have another left arm pacer that can swing it in?

 

[Kroll]

Pretty much all basis are covered so thier won't be able suprise picks.

That might be the case, but this thread is about who you think could be a surprise package that is unlikely to get picked or someone you would like to see involved.

In saying that, WC still a few months away and some things could change.

 

[Kroll]

M Haris is a no brainer

He is in my playing XI

Interesting, which batting spot have you penciled him in for?

 

[Officer Barbrady]

M Haris, Ihsanullah, Saim, Usama.

If any of them get an opportunity they could be the find of the tournament!

 

[Saj]

Will the selectors be brave enough to pick any of these guys though?

Or will they opt for the safety-first approach?

 

[CricLegend]

It has to be M Harris. I will bat him at 7 and ifti at 6. These two can do well together down the order. To win a World Cup you need players with the X factor and I’m afraid nor Agha Salman, Imad or Shadab have that.

My ideal 11 would be

Fakhar
Imam
Babar
Harris Sohail
Rizwan
Ifti
M Harris
Usama
Shaheen
Naseem
Rauf

 

[Officer Barbrady]

It has to be M Harris. I will bat him at 7 and ifti at 6. These two can do well together down the order. To win a World Cup you need players with the X factor and I’m afraid nor Agha Salman, Imad or Shadab have that.

My ideal 11 would be

Fakhar
Imam
Babar
Harris Sohail
Rizwan
Ifti
M Harris
Usama
Shaheen
Naseem
Rauf

Good to see usama and Ifti in the team.

But Ifti and sohail can’t perform 5th bowler duties. Maybe you could make it work by replacing Rizwan with Agha and letting M Haris keep wickets

 

[hitthestump]

Mohammad Haris should be there as backup to Rizwan anyway.

I would have Usama Mir in the squad, looking to utilise him with Shadab on certain pitches. It would be a bold move but the risk/reward is there as we are looking to become Champions this year.

Ihsanullah may be able to squeeze in as a back up pacer but it's unlikely as his speed isn't quite as effective across 10 overs and he is an awful fielder.

 

[CricLegend]

I don’t think this Pak management will drop Rizwan. If we have to take someone out then most likely it will be H Sohail. I would move everyone one up and then slot in Imad at 7. Shadab should not even be in the final 15 man squad. His game has gone backwards in the last 12-24 months in ODIs.

 

[ahmadharis1]

When has a wildcard pick for the world cup ever worked out? Yasir Shah got smacked around in 2015, Mohammad Hasnain was brought in as a secret weapon but didn't even play a game. Just pick your consistent performers and don't waste time with a "wildcard"

 

[BDfanforever]

IIRC in the CT 2017, Ruman Raees was a good wild card pick.

 

[bilawal666]

Shahnawaz Dahani

 

[Bilal7]

Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim would be mine.

They don't need to be part of the starting XI but these guys will add a lot of value to the squad.

Haris can bat anywhere, is a great fielder and a solid wicketkeeper; Amir is a similarly versatile player for the bowling attack and Imad Wasim can be an outright upgrade on Mohammad Nawaz.

 

[Kroll]

When has a wildcard pick for the world cup ever worked out? Yasir Shah got smacked around in 2015, Mohammad Hasnain was brought in as a secret weapon but didn't even play a game. Just pick your consistent performers and don't waste time with a "wildcard"

That's the thing, a wildcard could be one of those consistent performers but will miss out in order to accommodate a nepotistic / undeserving pick.

 

[Double Trouble]

92 World Cup - Inzi & Mushy picked by IK as wild cards who contributed to lifting the cup.

2009 T20 World Cup - 16/17 year old Amir bowled well enough for Pak to lift the cup.

We really need one wild card player in the squad to give us a chance as you never know injuries could side line one or two main players.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

The team is relatively stable. Its unlikely that there will be wildcard picks this time.

 

[gazza619]

Interesting, which batting spot have you penciled him in for?

Number 7

He can give us those crucial 20 ball 40s.

 

[Marooned]

Not exactly a wild card but Imad Wasim must return to odi XI.

We are short of a Middle order batsman in the squad as I see it. So while not terribly excited about the options there, I'd take chance on one of Ghulam or Tahir (don't care about the zimb series, doesn't prove much imo). Give them whatever games we play before WC and find that MO batsman for squad.

Jamal, if we are thinking about taking Faheem.

Ihsanullah can be a real wildcard. Sad he was barely given a game in all those 5 games.

 

[Kroll]

Not exactly a wild card but Imad Wasim must return to odi XI.

We are short of a Middle order batsman in the squad as I see it. So while not terribly excited about the options there, I'd take chance on one of Ghulam or Tahir (don't care about the zimb series, doesn't prove much imo). Give them whatever games we play before WC and find that MO batsman for squad.

Jamal, if we are thinking about taking Faheem.

Ihsanullah can be a real wildcard. Sad he was barely given a game in all those 5 games.

Is Imad not in danger of missing out due the preference for Shadab and Nawaz? That actually makes him a feasible wildcard and he could do a really good job.

 

[emranabbas]

Imad wasim and iftikhar chacha

 

[Firebat]

Iftimania! Hadn't played an ODI in over a year before this NZ series (and has only played 12 in his career), but is now basically a shoo-in for WC XI.

 

[Liverpool_Faizan]

Abrar Ahmed could potentially be a good pick

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Mohammad Haris, Imad Wasim.

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

Mohammad Haris, Imad Wasim.

Haris is almost assured of being on the plane anyway. What’s Imad playing as, an A/T or a batsmen?

In my opinion, if Haris Sohail is fit in time, I’d like to see him given a full go in the Asia Cup.

Failing that, I’d like to see Omair bin Youssuf played extensively in the Asia Cup. That lad has something about him.