Pakistan Kicks off Tri Series Tomorrow | Hopes to Sort Out Middle Order Woes:
After losing a home T20i series against England, Pakistan is now looking forward to their new and exciting assignments.
Pakistan is preparing to face New Zealand and Bangladesh in a tri-series before the all-important T20 World Cup.The series will act as a precursor for the mega event as the T20 World Cup is in the offing.
Talking about the squad, Pakistan will go with the same squad as was announced for the Worldcup with the exclusion of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Fakhar Zaman who are likely to join the team after a full recovery in the World cup.
Loop Holes:
This tri-series is yet again a golden opportunity for Pakistan to overcome their flaws and loopholes before the mega event commences. As was seen in the England series, Pakistan’s middle order struggled to put up an impressive show. Adding to the misery, boys in green yet again displayed a flawed fielding show.
Talking about the middle order, Pakistan had earlier replaced the injured Fakhar Zaman with Shan Masood and Haider Ali. Both of whom, unfortunately for Pakistan, couldn’t fulfil the assigned role up to par, hence, leaving the middle-order debate in the lurch once again. To secure the middle order, Babar will have to shuffle the batting order. For instance, the idea of utilizing Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz’s experience, up in the order can help the team gain extra runs while keeping the wicket safe.
It Is yet to be seen, how Pakistan will untie this Gordian knot before the T20 World Cup starts.
The comeback of Fakhar might be a great sign for the boys in green but the southpaw is currently in London nursing the injury that he picked in the Asia Cup final.
Powerplay Strategy:
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, great as their batting skills are, also need to improve their use of powerplay more effectively. A couple of gratuitous runs added to the board in powerplay are always a morale-booster and if anything Pakistan will be in dire need of morale and confidence to win the matches in both New Zealand and Australia.
As the chief selector Mohammad Wasim recently said that Pakistan is a step behind the batting of top teams in T20 cricket, keeping in view this, their lethal bowling lineup has to be paired with a better batting side to gain something productive.
Pakistan will play their first tri-series game on 7th October against Bangladesh in New Zealand.
The final of the series will be played on 14th October, after which Worldcup qualifiers will start. Pakistan now has a few chances to remove the impediments on its way to a successful Worldcup campaign.
