T20 World Cup 2022: Does Pakistan return with stable middle order and the return of important pacers?

Deemed to be one of the most mercurial sides in the cricketing world, the team had issues to address until the world cup. A fragile middle-order and injury-prone bowling attack looked to plague Pakistan’s chances in the global event. 

This World cup, it seems they finally have got hold of it but is it happening?

Is Pakistan middle giving some reliability to the team now?

Ever since Pakistan faced twin defeats against Sri Lanka in the Super four and finals of Asia Cup 2022, the Babar Azam-led team has been questioned numerously for sticking with the same middle order despite multiple failures. 

Followed by the Asia Cup, when Pakistan hosted England for a seven-match T20I series, everyone hoped to see various experimentation from them for the middle order as it was one of the significant loopholes from the Asia Cup. However, the team kept on missing the mark with their performances.  

Carrying forward came the tri-series against hosts New Zealand and Bangladesh. But this time, Pakistan did experimentation. The team tried shuffling their batting line-up up and down the order to figure out who could bat well at various batting positions. 

And that trial landed them a discovery of a potential all-rounder in Shadab Khan, promoting him to the number four position. Even Mohammad Nawaz was promoted to bat up the order, which pushed Haider Ali, Asif Ali and Iftikhar Ahmed down by one place each. The result was successful enough as Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz delivered as they played match-winning knocks for their team.

Haider Ali gave the finishing touch well, striking at a rate of 200-plus. Iftikhar Ahmed, too, gave a finishing touch which was essential with World Cup matches on the way. Newly formed middle-order and finishers delivered at just the right moment, giving confidence needed for their only negative point raised by many.

Significant strengthening in the form of Shaheen Shah Afridi

Pakistan has become home to world-class seamers, who have made their presence felt in the international circuit. 

While Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf stunned everyone in T20 World Cup 2021, Naseem Shah complimented Haris Rauf in the absence of leading spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi in the Asia Cup. But the return of Shaheen Shah Afridi in warm-up matches has been as delightful for Pakistani fans as it has threatened the opponents. 

His return has bolstered Pakistan’s pace attack, of which every opponent should be threatened.

In addition to the admirable pace attack of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, they have match-winning all-rounder Shadab Khan. He picked eight wickets in 5 Asia Cup games giving an economy of 6.05. With nine wickets in six matches, he was their highest wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup last year and gave an economy even less than their highly anticipated pace attack. 

The team overall looks to have got a formidable line-up in batting as well as bowling department. They will be one of the most formidable competitors for any team they play against.