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SPORTS JUNE 06, 2024 | The Indian Eye 52

T20 WORLD CUP

Is the Pakistan team and its stars well prepared

for a good performance at the top level?

A look at Pakistan’s form, talking points heading into the tournament and some of their

key performers since that painful loss to England at Melbourne Cricket Ground

OUR BUREAU
New York

he Pakistan cricket team has a
lot to introspect on and think
Tabout as they gear up for their
ICC T20 World Cup campaign opener
against USA on June 6 and the high-
ly-anticipated clash against arch-rivals
India in New York on June 9.
Let us look at Pakistan’s form,
talking points heading into the tour-
nament and some of their key per-
formers since that painful loss to En-
gland at Melbourne Cricket Ground
(MCG).
Afghanistan vs Pakistan in UAE
(March 2023)
n this series, Pakistan attempted
to build a new core ahead of the
I2024 T20 WC, under the lead-
ership of Shadab Khan, introducing
players like Saim Ayub, Mohammed Shaheen Afridi has taken 33 wickets in 19 matches at an average of 16.81 and an economy rate of 8.26, with best figures of 4/30 (ANI)
Haris, Azam Khan, Zaman Khan
etc. However, with a 2-1 series loss, then restricted to 154/7 while chasing total of 227 runs in the first game on erage of 51.63 and a strike rate of
the move backfired horribly as Paki- 193 runs. However, batters made a the back of fifties from Kane William- 135.88, with five half-centuries. His
stan missed the experience of Babar comeback in the next two games and son and Daryl Mitchell and a four-fer best score is 98*.
Azam, Mohammed Rizwan, Shaheen levelled the series. Mark Chapman’s by Tim Southee helped them win by • Fakhar Zaman: 446 runs in 16 match-
Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, who did not 57-ball 104* in the final T20I while 46 runs. In the next game, Allen’s 74 es at an average of 31.85 and a strike
play in the series. Afghanistan did a chasing 194 runs was a big highlight in 41 balls helped Kiwis set up 195 for rate of 149.16, with three fifties.
fine job chasing a paltry 93 runs and for Kiwis. Pakistan, who fell short by 21 runs. • Shaheen Afridi: 33 wickets in 19
131 runs in the first two games. In the Babar Azam’s 101* in the second matches at an average of 16.81 and
final game, Pakistan batting delivered T20I and Mohammed Rizwan’s 98* Pakistan tour of England an economy rate of 8.26, with best
the goods, scoring 182/7 in their 20 in the final T20I were two big bat- (May 2024) figures of 4/30.
overs and Shadab Khan, and Ihsanul- ting performances for Pakistan. Haris nother series loss for Pakistan. • Haris Rauf: 23 wickets in 11 match-
lah got three wickets to bundle out the Rauf (11 wickets), Imad Wasim (8 The first and third T20Is were es at an average of 16.65 and an
Afghans for 116 runs. wickets) and Shaheen (6 wickets) did Acalled off due to rain, but En- economy rate of 9.11, with best fig-
well for Pakistan as bowlers. ures of 4/18.
New Zealand in Pakistan gland defended 184 in the second • Abaas Afridi: 16 wickets in nine
(April 2023): Pakistan in New Zealand T20I while chased down 158 in just matches at an average of 16.50 and
15.3 overs in the fourth game to win
his series did not have sever- (January 2024): the series. a strike rate of 10.8, with best figures
of 3/20.
al names that are in the T20 n this series, New Zealand Top performers in this phase:
TWC squad, like Devon Con- out-batted a largely conservative, • Babar Azam: 668 runs in 20 match- Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed,
way, Kane Williamson, Glenn Phil- Iless risk-taking Pakistan side to es and 18 innings at an average of Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf,
lips, Tim Southee etc and was led by win the series 4-1. The captaincy arm- 39.29 and a strike rate of 143.34, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Moham-
Tom Latham. The series ended in a band finally returned to Kane Wil- with a century and six fifties in 18 mad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir,
2-2 draw. Kiwi batting fell flat in the liamson, who played in the series for innings. Best score 101*. Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah,
first two matches, once bundled out two games and Satner led the team in • Mohammed Rizwan: 568 runs in Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen
for 94 while chasing 183 runs and the rest of the games. NZ set a huge 18 matches and 16 innings at an av- Shah Afridi, Usman Khan

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