Pakistan prepare for it Ireland in a highly anticipated three-match T20I series against the picturesque backdrop of the Clontarf Cricket Club Ground in Dublin. The first meeting is planned for Friday (May 10th) and promises an exciting start to the series. The further matches are planned for May 12th and 14th at the same venue.
Reinforcements and deletion of the Pakistani troops
The Pakistani contingent put together meticulously impressive squad for the seriesunder the wise leadership of Babar Azam. The return of experienced pacers Haris Rauf And Hasan Aliin addition to the versatile all-rounder Salman Agha, gives the team a new sense of power and depth. However, notable exclusions include Spinner Usama Mir and pacemaker Zaman Khanwho played a prominent role in New Zealand’s recent T20I series but has now been left out of the squad.
Road to the 2024 T20 World Cup
The upcoming series is of huge importance for both teams as they prepare for the highly anticipated event T20 World Cup 2024which is scheduled to begin on June 1st United States of America (USA) and that West Indies. With Pakistan and Ireland in the same group at the World Cup, their clash on June 16 in Lauderhill promises to be a crucial clash. In the ICC T20I rankings, Pakistan are currently ranked fifth, demonstrating their prominence in the format, while Ireland are ranked 11th.
ALSO READ: Here’s why Pakistan has not yet announced their squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup
Pakistan’s top XI for the T20I series against Ireland:
1. Babar Azam (Captain):
- Quality: Consistency, adaptability, first-class striking technique.
- Perfomance: One of the best batters in the white-ball format in the world, experience as a captain.
- Best shot: Cover Drive – exquisite timing and placement.
- Fast scorer: Can speed up innings without taking undue risks, ensuring a high strike rate.
- Best for T20I: Ability to anchor innings while maintaining a high strike rate to ensure stability and aggressiveness in the batting lineup.
2. Fakhar Zaman:
- Quality: Explosive left-handed opener, aggressive hitting style.
- Perfomance: Known for blitzkrieg launches capable of shattering enemy attacks.
- Best shot: Lofted drive over the middle – clears the infield with ease.
- Fast scorer: Can quickly collect runs and put pressure on the opponent from the start.
- Best for T20I: Provides momentum in powerplay overs and sets the tone for the innings with aggressive strokeplay.
3. Saim Ayub:
- Quality: Up-and-coming talent, solid technique.
- Perfomance: Impressive performances in domestic cricket to consolidate innings.
- Best shot: Classic cover drive – demonstrates his technique and timing.
- Fast scorer: Can rotate the bat and speed up innings when needed.
- Best for T20I: Provides stability in the top order, can build partnerships and accelerate scoring rate.
4. Azam Khan (wicketkeeper):
- Quality: Tough hitter, explosive hitting game.
- Perfomance: Emerging talent with the ability to consistently push boundaries.
- Best shot: Pull Shot – powerful and well timed.
- Fast scorer: Can score quick runs, particularly effective in the death overs.
- Best for T20I: Dynamic middle-order batsman who can change momentum through aggressive batting.
5. Shadab Khan:
- Quality: Multi-dimensional all-rounder, skilled in handling bat and ball.
- Perfomance: Regular wicket-taker with the ball, handy lower-order batsman.
- Best shot: Swing against spinners – adept at finding gaps.
- Fast scorer: Can score quick runs in the death overs with innovative shots.
- Best for T20I: Provides spin variations and crucial breakthroughs, adding depth to the batting lineup.
6. Iftikhar Ahmed:
- Quality: Mediocre batsman, handy off-spin bowler.
- Perfomance: Versatile player with the ability to steady innings or speed up as needed.
- Best shot: Straight shot for six – shows his class and timing.
- Fast scorer: Can speed up innings with calculated risks and often turn the tide of the game.
- Best for T20I: Provides flexibility in batting order, can rotate the shot or set boundaries according to the team’s needs.
7. Imad Wasim:
- Quality: Skillful left-arm spinner, handy lower-order batsman.
- Perfomance: Economical in the middle overs, talented at picking crucial wickets.
- Best shot: Reverse Sweep – brings variety to his hitting repertoire.
- Fast scorer: Can speed up innings with innovative strokeplay, particularly effective against spinners.
- Best for T20I: Controls the flow of runs, can make important contributions with both bat and ball, crucial in the middle overs.
8. Abrar Ahmed:
- Quality: The Right Arm Leg Break and the Googly Spinner have deceptive variations.
- Perfomance: Rising talent with the potential to trouble batters with his leg-spin.
- Bowling style: Relies on variations such as leg breaks, googlies and flippers.
- Turn: Produces sharp turns and bounces on conducive pitches, creating a challenge for batsmen to read.
- Control: Develop control over your variations and improve accuracy and consistency.
9. Naseem Shah:
- Quality: Young fast bowler with raw pace and potential.
- Perfomance: Promising performances in domestic and international cricket.
- Bowling style: Aggressive seam bowler, creates bounce and movement off the pitch.
- Tempo: Can bowl consistently at high speed and unsettle the batters.
- Variations: Developing a repertoire of deliveries including yorkers and bouncers.
10. Hasan Ali:
- Quality: First-class fast bowler, aggressive and wicket-happy.
- Perfomance: Strikes early with the new ball and dominates bowling yorkers in death overs.
- Bowling style: Seam bowler with the ability to swing the ball in both directions.
- Swing: Creates late movement in the air, particularly effective with the new ball.
- Yorker: Mastery of yorker length, effective in the death overs.
11. Shaheen Afridi:
- Quality: Exciting left-arm pacer capable of generating pace and bounce.
- Perfomance: Takes wickets in advance and applies pressure with his raw pace.
- Bowling style: Left arm angle, throws a probing line and length.
- Swing: Known for swinging the new ball, which is particularly deadly in cloudy skies.
- Yorker: Developing accuracy with the yorkers adds another dimension to his bowling.