Bangladesh recently knocked Pakistan out of the Asia Cup, eventually going on to lose the final against an Indian side that’s better on paper than the 2007 team that beat Pakistan in the World T20 final. In addition to the defeat against Bangladesh, it was the drubbing handed out by India in the Asia Cup that knocked Pakistan out of the tournament, and from a false sense of complacency. The consolation win against the weakest Sri Lankan side for decades, doesn’t bridge the gap between Pakistan and India – and maybe Bangladesh as well.
Defeats against both Bangladesh and India were founded upon masochistic batting displays that have formed the ethos of Pakistani batting, especially the top-order, of late. The selection of Khurram Manzoor - completely baffling to begin with - failed miserably as he has already been dropped from the World T20. Sharjeel Khan wasn’t at ease making the jump from Pakistan Super League (PSL) to the biggest stage, but his innings against Sri Lanka showed a glimpse of what he can do. But it was a Sri Lankan team already reeling from high-profile retirements and without Lasith Malinga and Angelo Matthews. Mohammed Hafeez failed miserably in all the matches, slashing question-marks over his place in the starting 11, if not the squad, considering the ban on his bowling.
The only two batsmen who displayed anything resembling batting form were Shoaib Malik and Sarfraz Ahmed. Considering the Pakistani batting woes, it would make sense to promote Sarfraz up the order and ensure that he, Malik and Umar Akmal are a part of the top five, with the returning Ahmed Shehzad opening with Sharjeel Khan. This does look like the strongest possible top order with the selected squad.
Pakistan’s World T20 squad:
Shahid Afridi (capt), Ahmed Shehzad, Anwar Ali, Imad Wasim, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Nawaz, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Sharjeel Khan, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Wahab Riaz
The problem for Pakistan is that they are a part of a really difficult group having lost the last T20 they played against all four of the teams that they are going to take on. Defeats against New Zealand, India and Bangladesh have come in the past couple of months. And so, Pakistan would have to be at their absolute best for there to be any chance of qualifying through this group. To make the equation more straight-forward: Pakistan would have to beat three of India, Australia, New Zealand, and Bangladesh to ensure progression to the next stage.
The gauntlet, as always, will be thrown to the bowlers to ensure Pakistan can compete. They toiled against India and Bangladesh in the Asia Cup to make matches out of hopeless starts with the bat. The most notable among these was of course Mohammad Amir, who has reminded everyone – for those that needed reminding - that he is one of the best fast bowlers in the world right now, despite the five year layoff.
With Amir and Afridi set to feature in the starting 11, picking the other three bowlers has been a bit of a puzzle. Wahab Riaz was dropped after being hit around by India, following an indifferent run of form with the ball. Mohammed Sami who has barely put a foot wrong in the recent past, did precisely that (twice) in the penultimate over of the match against Bangladesh to hand over the match to the hosts.
Mohammed Irfan has been consistent – for both Pakistan and Islamabad United – and should open the bowling with Amir. Meanwhile, there is a case for going with Imad Wasim or Mohammad Nawaz, considering the spinning tracks in India and the fact that both can add depth to the batting as well. The final 11 should have one of Wasim/Nawaz and one of Sami/Wahab to add to Amir, Irfan and Afridi.
Pakistan's batting would have to step up for them to qualify from the group of death
Afridi’s own performances have been patchy for a while, and he seems to be more focused towards undoing his retirement than keeping his eye on the field. Even if he intends to continue playing on there is no better way of doing that than a big show in the World T20, something along the lines of his tournament winning performance in 2009.
While the bowling would have to be at its best, Pakistani batting absolute needs to step up to the plate for Pakistan to have any chance of getting through what for them is a group of death. It might seem mission impossible as things stand, but that’s exactly the way Pakistan love it.