Pakistan is gearing up for their first Super 4 game in the 2023 Asia Cup, scheduled to take place on Wednesday at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The Men in Green will be facing the team that secures the second spot in Group B, which comprises Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
For the opening partnership, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq will take the crease, with Babar Azam aiming to continue his excellent form, as demonstrated by his remarkable score of 151 against Nepal.
In the middle order, Mohammad Rizwan, the wicketkeeper-batsman, will hold the number four position. Occupying the fifth and sixth positions in the batting order will be Salman Agha and Iftikhar Ahmed, respectively.
Despite their costly performance in the match against India on Saturday, Pakistan is likely to retain their spin-bowling all-rounders, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz.
The final three slots in the lineup will be manned by the dynamic fast-bowling trio of Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah, renowned for their fiery pace and ability to unsettle opposing batters. This Pakistani trio etched their names in history during the aforementioned match against India by becoming the first set of pacers to claim all 10 wickets in an Asia Cup ODI.
Here is the expected playing XI for Pakistan:
- Fakhar Zaman
- Imam-ul-Haq
- Babar Azam (Captain)
- Mohammad Rizwan (Wicketkeeper)
- Salman Agha
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Shadab Khan
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Shaheen Afridi
- Naseem Shah
- Haris Rauf
Pakistan’s squad for the Asia Cup includes:
- Abdullah Shafique
- Fakhar Zaman
- Imam-ul-Haq
- Babar Azam (Captain)
- Salman Ali Agha
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Saud Shakeel
- Mohammad Rizwan
- Mohammad Haris
- Shadab Khan (Vice-Captain)
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Usama Mir
- Faheem Ashraf
- Haris Rauf
- Mohammad Wasim Jnr
- Naseem Shah
- Shaheen Afridi
