T20 World Cup 2022: Pakistan's potential match-winners: Shaheen Shah Afridi, in-form Muhammad Rizwan, X-factors Shadab Khan, and Haris Rauf

After all, who's heard of a team losing their first two matches in the group stage before inexplicably qualifying for the final of an ICC tournament? The answer is easy: Pakistan 1992 when won their maiden World Cup. 

And that's the thing with this team – they might sometimes struggle against teams they are expected to beat but can often defeat teams they're least expected to win.

The same can be said about this Pakistan team, who lost inexplicably to Zimbabwe before beating heavyweights South Africa and New Zealand to book their spot in the final. 

The good news now is that their core team members have found some form – and that bodes dangerously for England, their opponents in the final. 

The biggest positive is the recent form of Shaheen Shah Afridi. The young pacer, who was key to their run to the semi-finals last year, missed the Asia Cup this year due to injury. 

His recovery from said injury was touch and go, but he was declared fit for the World Cup. However, a lack of game time left him rusty and out of rhythm. 

But he is now bowling at his best and was lethal against Bangladesh and New Zealand, and Pakistan will hope his good form continues into the final. 

Mohammad Rizwan was admittedly in good form coming into the tournament but then struggled through the World Cup alongside skipper Babar Azam. 

However, Mohammad Rizwan looked the more assured of the two and played a more attacking knock against the Kiwis, letting Babar Azam play as a sheet anchor. 

The more attacking side Mohammad Rizwan displayed added a new dimension to his game since getting runs was never that much of an issue. And Pakistan would want him to keep playing this way now. 

But aside from these two, two X-factor players can change the game singlehandedly. The first of those would be Shadab Khan. 

Shadab Khan is, in many ways, Pakistan's 3D player. He's handy with the bat, economical with his leg spin and arguably one of the better fielders in the team. 

There are many ways he can impact the game, and recent matches have often seen him play a key role, whether with the bat, the ball or even on the field. 

Then there is Haris Rauf, the one bowler they have who can consistently crank up the speed and hit around and above the 150 km/h mark. 

Haris Rauf has been a consistent thorn in the side of whoever he has played against and does tend to get himself and the team a few crucial wickets now and then. 

To make things better, he has plenty of experience playing in Melbourne due to his experience in the Big Bash League. 

All in all, Pakistan has multiple match winners in the side – and dreams of a 1992 encore are very much real.