Cricket World Cup Preview: Pakistan

As the ICC World Cup 2015 approaches, all the teams of the cricketing world are already busy preparing for the Mega Event. Boards have announced their World Cup squads. Training has begun and a few teams are still playing International series to strengthen themselves and to fix the errors. In Pakistan, it is a similar case. A domestic Pentangular Cup has just ended recently, which featured all the International players, especially those who have been selected for the World Cup squad.

Pakistan’s World Cup squad is just as was expected. Less senior and experienced players and more junior and inexperienced players make up the squad. With Saeed Ajmal banned from bowling due to an illegal bowling action, the Pakistani side does lack a quality off-spinner and that is a point of worry for them.

Pakistan’s World Cup squad:
Ahmed Shehzad, Ehsan Adil, Haris Sohail, Junaid Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Irfan, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Shahid Afridi, Sohaib Maqsood, Sohail Khan, Umar Akmal, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Younus Khan.

All the players in the squad have been attending training sessions at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, in which Junaid Khan slipped and has injured himself. MRI reports show Junaid’s injury is not serious and he will be back in training very soon. Junaid is a key fast-bowler for Pakistan and his loss would not be easy to cover, the same as for Saeed Ajmal.

Former Pakistani star batsman and a member of World Cup 1992 winning squad, Jaweb Miandad has voiced his concerns over the inexperience of the current side. He said that lack of experience might bother the Pakistani side in the campaign.
In this year’s ICC mega event, Pakistan will start by facing two big teams; their arch-rivals, India and a very talented West Indies. Facing big teams in the tournament early would be good in a way as it will help the side to face harder challenges in the beginning and hence making them work harder on the weaknesses of the team.

Pakistan’s fixtures in the group stage of this world cup are as follows:

15^th Feb, 2015, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide  – India vs Pakistan  (Time: 14:00 local time,  08:30 PKT,  9:00 IST)

21^st Feb, 2015, Hagley Oval, Christchurch – Pakistan vs West Indies (Time: 11:00 local time, 03:00 PKT^*, 3:30 IST^*)

1^ST March, 2015, The Gabba, Brisbane – Pakistan vs Zimbabwe (Time: 13:30 local time, 08:30 PKT, 09:00 IST)

4^th March, 2015, McLean Park, Napier – Pakistan vs United Arab Emirates (Time: 14:00 local time, 08:30 PKT, 09:00 IST)

7^th March, 2015, Eden Park, Auckland – Pakistan vs South Africa (Time: 14:00 local time, 08:30 PKT, 09:00 IST)

15^th March, 2015, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide – Pakistan vs Ireland (Time: 14:00 local time, 08:30 PKT, 09:00 IST)

Players that are expected to play a key role and are worth watching include Ahmed Shehzad, Haris Sohail, Junaid Khan, Ehsan Adil, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Yasir Shah.

With the cool minded plans of captain Misbah-ul-haq and logical strategies of vice-captain, Mohammad Hafeez, a.k.a. Professor, all the Pakistan team needs to do is to settle in the Australian conditions as quickly as possible and implement the plan on the pitch. The earlier the team settles, the better it will be for them.

Though they are without Ajmal in the bowling department and Hafeez is still a doubt for bowling in the World Cup due to their controversial bowling actions, the Pakistan team still has its main strength in bowling. They have worked hard in the field and with young players their fielding will surely improve. The only concern with the team is their fragile batting. If this department gets better, Pakistan would be one very difficult opponent to beat. They might even reach the final or repeat the history by winning it again on the country where they won the Cup 23 years ago.

* change of time-zone, match will be on 22nd Feb 2015

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