The piece is being written during the T20 series against Scotland, with Pakistan having bagged a convincing win in the first match courtesy of Sarfraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik’s explosive batting, and Shadab Khan’s decisive bowling. Before the match, Scotland had beaten England in a pulsating ODI, and should all go according to plan, Pakistan would head into the Zimbabwe tri-series – that also features Australia – as the number one side in the world.
The secret to Pakistan being the number one ranked T20 team isn’t a big booming batting lineup, but a bunch of reliable opening and deadly bowlers. Winning 17 of their last 20 games before the Scotland series, Pakistan have not once allowed the opposition to score 200.
Mohammad Nawaz celebrates a wicket
Two of the aforementioned three matches lost were due to below par displays with the bat. The third being the exception where Thisara Perera went berserk, scoring 47 off 19 balls with five sixes and allowing World XI to clinch only victory in the three-match series played at Lahore.
Top-drawer bowling has allowed Pakistan to win with huge margins, dominating oppositions like multi-starred World XI, West Indies, New Zealand and England. However, they haven’t faced the second ranked T20 team – Australia – during this period.
Most importantly, at the time of writing, the Aussies (126) aren’t too far behind Pakistan (130) – just a four-rating margin, which could be surpassed in the T20 tri-series scheduled to be played in Zimbabwe from July 01. The spotlight hence will focus on the clashes between the two.
Hasan Ali
The tri-series would see the top two T20 sides in the world, Pakistan and Australia, face off for supremacy
The seven-match series will see Pakistan and Australia take on each other twice, with the addition of an expected final between the same that will be played on July 08.
There are some top Australian players to watch out for – especially in the batting department. Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch, who are among the best hitters in the game, will look to attack the young Pakistan bowling lineup which includes the likes of Shaheen Afridi, Usman Khan Shinwari, Shadab Khan, Faheem Asharaf and Mohammad Nawaz.
Shoaib Malik and Sarfaz Ahmed
Pakistan batting is all talent where Fakhar Zaman, Hussain Talat, Shoaib Malik and skipper Sarfraz Ahmed will try to try to fill-in the void created by injured Babar Azam -who was injured after being hit on the wrist and retired hurt at Lord’s.
Therefore, for the most part, as is the historical norm, it will be Pakistan bowling against Australian batting.
The Aussies might be under pressure under Finch, as their new captain, who’ll be responsible for rearranging a new top-order due to the absence of David Warner and Steve Smith who are out owing to the ball-tampering fiasco. Even so, Australia will have time to adjust, as they head to England to play a five-match ODI series followed by a T20 contest.
Shadab Khan
The rest of the Zimbabwe tour will also be critical for Pakistan, since the side hasn’t really impressed consistently in ODIs. Pakistan will follow up the tri-series with a five-match ODI series against Zimbabwe.
Similar to the side that played Tests at Lord’s and Headingly, Pakistan’s ODI and T20 squads too have fresh blood with players trying to make their mark in the international arena. Young all-rounders Shadab and Faheem are to look out for as they look to impress with the bat and bowl.
Fakhar Zaman has a lot to prove with the bat as far as consistency is concerned. Hussain Talat, who played well against the West Indies, can further establish himself as well. There is a decent chance that Mohammad Hafeez will be asked to join the team after being cleared by the ICC to bowl.
Winning the T20 tri-series by overcoming Australia would mean that the team under Sarfraz Ahmed would have overcome another top side and maintained its dominance in the format. That would be a major incentive before Pakistan host Australia and New Zealand this autumn.
