Picking Pakistan's All-Time T20 XI

Pakistan’s All-Time T20 XI

Have you ever wondered about how Pakistan’s all-time T20 XI would look like?

Pakistan has played the most number of T20I matches since the beginning of this form of cricket. Hence, it is the most experienced cricketing nation in this format with 160 games played and is followed by India and New Zealand who have played 137 games each.

Undoubtedly, the performance of Pakistan’s team in this format has been outstanding with one World Cup victory, runner-up one-time, and semi-finalist two-times out of eight World Cup campaigns.

So, selecting the team is not a simple proposition as each era has seen some top performers in this format. However, the best possible Pakistan’s all-time T20 XI in my opinion is as follows:

The Openers

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – AUGUST 30: Babar Azam of Pakistan celebrates reaching fifty during the 2nd Vitality International Twenty20 match between England and Pakistan at Emirates Old Trafford on August 30, 2020 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

1) Babar Azam: Opener

T20 Stats – 44 matches, 50.92 average, 130 strike-rate.

Babar Azam is no doubt the best T20 batsman Pakistan has ever produced. He is currently the captain for Pakistan team in all-formats and also appears in ICC top 10 batsmen ranking of all-formats. He would be opening the innings in this team.

Also, Read – Challenges for Babar Azam as the new Pakistan captain

2) Kamran Akmal: Wicketkeeper

T20 Stats – 58 matches, 21 average, 119.6 strike-rate.

The dangerous Kamran Akmal has a dual role in this side. He will be keeping as well as striking hard in the powerplay overs for which he is famous for. Already, he has struck three centuries in Pakistan Super league (PSL) and is the highest scorer till date.

Also, Read – Have we seen the last of Sarfaraz Ahmed

The Middle-Order

Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik plays a shot during the international Twenty20 cricket match between England and Pakistan at Old Trafford cricket ground in Manchester, north-west England, on August 30, 2020. (Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECT COMPETITOR OF SPONSOR, PARTNER, OR SUPPLIER OF THE ECB (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

3) Shahid Afridi: Captain

T20 Stats – 98 matches, 18 average, 150 strike-rate, 97 wickets.

Shahid Afridi, the man of the match in World Cup 2009 T20I final, would be leading the team in an aggressive style of his. He till this date is the highest wicket taker of Pakistan in this format. He is the all-rounder in this team.

The captain of Pakistan’s all-time T20 XI is a dynamic player.

4) Muhammad Hafeez: All-rounder

T20 Stats – 99 matches, 27.9 average, 121.3 strike-rate, 6.58 economy.

The champion of T20I in 2020, Muhammad Hafeez would be batting at number 4. He will also be bowling 2-4 overs with his amazing ability to restrict the batsman to score big as visible with his economy figures.

Also, Read – Muhammad Hafeez: Pakistan’s champion batsman during T20Is in 2020

5) Shoaib Malik: Middle-order

T20 Stats – 115 matches, 131.3 average, 124.2 strike-rate.

The highest scorer till now along with Hafeez, Shoaib Malik would be providing the anchoring role in the middle order.

6) Misbah-ul-Haq: Middle-order

T20 Stats – 39 matches, 37.52 average, 110 strike-rate.

With top notch average in this format, Misbah-ul-Haq would be providing this team stability in the time of a crisis. He also has the ability to go big if the conditions demand so.

7) Abdul Razzaq: Power-hitter

T20 Stats – 32 matches, 20.6 average, 116.6 strike-rate, 6.99 economy, 22 wickets.

Probably the best all-rounder for Pakistan in the last decade, Abdul Razzaq not only can bowl but also can strike hard. He is known for his power hitting abilities and would be useful in the final overs.

The Bowlers

Umar Gul is the best Pakistani bowler in the all-time T20 XI. — Pakistan bowler Umar Gul celebrates the wicket of Peter McGlashan, out LBW, during the ICC World Twenty20 Super Eights match between New Zealand and Pakistan at The Oval, London, 13th June 2009. Umar Gul finished with five wickets for six runs from three overs. Pakistan won by 6 wickets. (Photo by Patrick Eagar/Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)

8) Umar Gul: Death-over-bowler

T20 Stats – 65 matches, 7.19asi economy, 85 wickets.

The best T20 bowler of all time in terms of the ICC rankings, Umar Gul is the death over bowler for this side. He is famous for his yorkers. He would be bowling in the last 8 overs of the game.

Perhaps one of the greatest assets in Pakistan’s all-time T20 XI.

9) Muhammad Amir: Left-arm-fast

T20 Stats – 50 matches, 7.02 economy, 59 wickets.

The left-arm fast bowler of this side is the incredible Amir. Everyone still remembers his Asia cup spell against India just after his return from 5 years of ban. He would be opening the bowling for this side.

Also, Read – Why Muhammad Amir’s Retirement Was Inevitable?

10) Muhammad Asif: Opening bowler

T20 Stats – 13 matches, 8 economy, 13 wickets.

Probably the best swing bowler of the last era. His slowness in action had deceived many great batsmen of the game. He is going to open the bowling along with Amir.

11) Saeed Ajmal: Off-spinner

T20 Stats – 64 matches, 6.36 economy, 85 wickets.

Very few spinners have the ability to bowl in the last overs of the game. Saeed Ajmal was one of them. Still his economy is just astonishing. He is the off-spinner for this side

Pakistan’s all-time T20 XI is pretty hard to be beat!

Main Image Credit:
Embed from Getty Images