Not too many cricketing nations are fortunate enough to install their ICC World Cup-winning captain as Prime Minister or President after the end of their cricketing career.
Such is the reality of the cricket craze nation of Pakistan who in 2018 elected Imran Khan – captain of the 1992 winning World Cup team – as Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic.
It goes without saying that Khan inevitably would have placed emphasis on Pakistan’s cricketing pilgrimage. He had the means to and that he did, signalling his intent to restructure Pakistan’s domestic cricket while he was also consumed by a number of other domestic and inter-regional issues.
According to ESPN, Khan who is a living Pakistani legend, “by dint of being the country’s premier… is also patron-in-chief of the board (Pakistan Cricket Board).” In other words, his opinion on cricket matters carries considerable weight.
At the forefront of his philosophy is to create a cricketing structure where Pakistan is better equipped to play consistent rather than their accustomed indifferent approach to cricket for which they are more known for.
For that reason, it was hardly any surprise when Pakistan lost their final ICC World Cup warm-up match against Afghanistan a few days ago, and that had more to do with Pakistan’s unpredictability than Afghanistan’s stirring rise.
But make no mistake about it, Pakistan’s unpredictability goes both ways and they can spring a few surprises as they did in the 2017 ICC champions trophy in England where they defied the odds and hammered India in the final.
It is no secret, therefore, that much is expected of the Sarfaraz Ahmed unit and they are a well-composed side.
Atop the batting order are two exceptional talents in Fakhar Zaman – one of the finds during the successful 2017 champions trophy run – and Imam-ul-Haq, a prolific left-hander who is the nephew of the chief national selector and former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq.
The middle order, on the other hand, is filled with talent and experience which conjures a high level of expectation and understandably so.
Babar Azam, the anchored number three, is a level-headed 24-year old figure who will certainly make his mark for Pakistan at the showpiece event. The rest of the middle order should feature the experienced trio – Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, and skipper Ahmed.
Pakistan’s bowling will be spearheaded by a battery of quality left-arm bowlers – Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Afridi, and Wahab Riaz -all of whom provide a different variation whether it is pace, swing or seam.
There is also the impressionable Hasan Ali, whose right arm seam can create much discomfort for the opposite in ideal conditions.
The spin department is also quite good, boasting the services of leg-spinner Shadab Khan, who is an attaching option while Imad Wasim who operates at an economy rate of under-five does a wonderful holding job for his skipper.
Pakistan’s campaign gets underway on Friday with a matchup against the West Indies.
