Babar Azam To Shaheen Afridi: 5 Key Players For Pakistan In ODI World Cup 2023
Pakistan will be a force to reckon with in the ODI World Cup 2023. The gala event will be played in conditions that suit the Men in Green. Pakistan last won a 50-over World Cup in 1992, under the leadership of Imran Khan.
The Pakistan team will be led by the talismanic Babar Azam who has taken Pakistan cricket to great heights in the recent few years. The team is second in the ICC ODI ranking and will be one of the favorites to win the title.
Pakistan often used to collapse in pressure games which hurt the team badly in ICC events, however, the team has learned the art of coming out with flying colors when pushed against the wall.
The Pakistan squad has a plethora of players who are capable of being the match-winners for the Men in Green. Here’s ate the five players who will be key for the Babar Azam-led team.
Fakhar Zaman
The destructive left-hander will hold the key for Pakistan in the showpiece event. Zaman has the ability to take the game away within a blink of an eye.
Fakhar is the only Pakistan batsman to score a double hundred in ODIs. He almost got another double ton in a game against South Africa but was run out for 193. The batsman has been in great form in 2023, scoring 520 runs in eight ODIs, including three centuries.
Babar Azam
The captain is the current no. 1 batter in ODIs and not without a reason. Babar Azam has been piling on runs for fun in ODIs ever since he made his debut.
Babar Azam has played 100 ODI matches, scoring 5089 runs, with 18 hundreds at an average of 59.17. With 425 runs in eight matches in 2023, Babar Azam has shown tremendous consistency this year.
Muhammad Rizwan
Mohammad Rizwan has been the backbone of the Pakistan middle order. Rizwan has been very consistent and rarely goes without making an impact. Rizwan has been in good form in 2023, scoring 343 runs in eight matches at an average of 68.60.
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead the Pakistan pace attack in the World Cup 2023. Shaheen has been a gun bowler for Pakistan across formats. He has taken eight wickets in four games this year in ODIs. Overall, he has 70 wickets in 36 ODI matches at an average of 23.9.
Haris Rauf
Haris Rauf will bring sheer pace to the Pakistan team. When on song, Rauf can rattle the best batting lineups in the world. Rauf has shown great form in 2023, picking 10 wickets in seven matches at an economy of less than 10.
