Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan’s strongest XI

Cricket fans are eagerly waiting for the Asia Cup 2023 which is less than three weeks away. The marquee tournament will be jointly hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka and this time, India and Pakistan are among the favourites to lift the trophy while Bangladesh and Afghanistan have the potential to perform turnarounds in the competition.

Recently, Pakistan announced a 17-member squad for the upcoming competition. As a host, Pakistan will look to take home advantage and clinch the distinguished trophy after 11 years under Babar Azam’s captaincy. This competition will be crucial for Pakistan as they will be able to analyse the preparation for the World Cup 2023, following the conclusion of the continental tournament.

Here is Pakistan’s strongest XI for the Asia Cup 2023

1. Fakhar Zaman

Fakhar-Zaman. (Photo by ARIF ALI/AFP via Getty Images)

Fakhar Zaman’s responsibility will be to provide fierce starts to Pakistan in the competition. In the 2018 edition of the tournament, the southpaw failed to be among the runs. Playing five matches, he scored only 56 runs at an underwhelming strike rate of 62.22.

This time, he will look to improve his numbers in the Asian tournament. His batting record is exceptional on his home soil as he has racked up 817 runs in 17 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) at a strike rate of 89.19. Zaman has done exceptionally well in one-day cricket this year. In the three-match ODI series played against New Zealand in January, he scored 157 runs in three matches at a superb average of 52.33.

New Zealand toured Pakistan again in April to play five ODIs and this time, Zaman ended up as the leading run-scorer, with 363 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 99.45. In the series, he also notched up a couple of tons and helped his team hammer the visitors comfortably.

2. Imam-ul-Haq

Imam-ul-Haq. (Photo Source: Getty Images)

Imam-ul-Haq was the best performer for Pakistan with the bat in the last ODI edition of the tournament. He scored 225 runs in five matches with three half-centuries. Despite becoming the best performer for his team, he faced a lot of criticism for failing to finish the Super Four match against Bangladesh in Pakistan’s favour.

This time, the Pakistan team management will expect Imam to support his in-form opening partner Fakhar Zaman and deliver match-winning knocks to his side. This year, he has played five ODIs, in which he has hit 191 runs with a couple of fifties. In the five-match ODI series against the Kiwis in April-May, he turned out in three games and scored 174 runs with two half-centuries.

Since 2022 he has showcased confidence with his bat and helped Pakistan win some important assignments. The same will be expected from him in the 2023 Asia Cup. The left-handed opening batter became the second-highest run-scorer for the Men in Green in ODIs, racking up 505 runs in eight matches with a couple of tons and four fifties.

3. Babar Azam

Babar Azam (Photo Source: Nawaz/Twitter)

Babar Azam will be a vital cog in Pakistan’s campaign for the upcoming weeks. In 2022, when the Asia Cup was played in the T20 International (T20I) format, Babar failed to turn up against bowlers. Thus far, he has failed to perform according to his reputation in the Asia Cup.

In the 2018 installment of the tournament, he amassed 156 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 70.90. Babar’s recent numbers are excellent and noting that, it could be said that the Pakistan skipper could wreak havoc on bowlers in the Asian competition. For the last two years, he is holding the title of the ODI Player of the Year (2021 and 2022).

This year, he has scored 425 runs in eight ODIs with a ton and four fifties. The 28-year-old will strive to take his fine form ahead in the Asia Cup. This time, Pakistan will go to the tournament as champions and Babar’s endeavours will be to utilise this opportunity and showcase his captaincy skills.

4. Mohammad Rizwan

Mohammad Rizwan. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Mohammad Rizwan will reinforce Pakistan’s middle order with his brilliant batting skills. In Pakistan’s ODI series loss to New Zealand in January, Rizwan became the highest run-getter in the competition with 182 runs in three games at a strike rate of 86.66. His unbeaten 77-run knock helped Pakistan to emerge victorious in the first match in Karachi.

In the last Asia Cup played in the T20 format, Rizwan became the highest run-getter with 281 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 117.57. The upcoming edition will be played in the ODI format and Rizwan will look to continue his excellent run in this prestigious tournament and make Pakistan Asian champions after 2012 again.

This year, the wicketkeeper-batter has played eight one-day matches, in which he has accumulated 343 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 94.75. In the upcoming Asia Cup, Pakistan cricket team supporters will keep their expectations high from Rizwan.

5. Salman Ali Agha

Salman-Ali. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Agha Salman is named in Pakistan’s squad for the ODI tournament coming ahead and this series will be the best opportunity for him to seal his spot for Pakistan’s 2023 World Cup team. So far, his performance is decent in ODIs as he has scored 337 runs in 10 innings of 11 matches with three fifties.

Salman has the potential to stabilise Pakistan’s innings as a middle-order batter in case the top-order collapses. Along with that, he can also contribute to the team with his off-break bowling. With Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz, he can form a perfect spin attack that could wreak havoc on opponents on turning tracks.

In List A cricket, he has picked up 69 wickets for Lahore Lions in 76 innings of 81 matches at a frugal economy of 4.88. These numbers corroborate that he could become an asset for Pakistan in the tournament. The 29-year-old will look to reinforce Pakistan’s middle order along with senior player Rizwan.

6. Mohammad Haris

Mohammad Haris. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Mohammad Haris got picked up for Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2023 campaign. In Rizwan’s presence, he might not get a chance to don the wicketkeeping gloves, however, with the bat, he will play a vital role in the side. As a lower-middle-order batter, his responsibility will be to utilise his aggressive playing style and take the team home.

The 22-year-old is known for his power-hitting abilities which has got him success in Pakistan’s domestic cricket. In List A cricket, he has scored 940 runs in 35 innings of 39 matches at a fabulous strike rate of 107.55. While in ODI cricket, he has maintained the strike rate above 100 in five matches he played.

Recently, he also led Pakistan A to the Emerging Asia Cup 2023 title victory and that success will also give him the confidence to do well for Pakistan in the crucial assignment coming ahead. In the recently passed Emerging Asia Cup, the youngster scored 132 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 111.86.

7. Mohammad Nawaz

Mohammad Nawaz. (Photo Source: Getty Images )

Mohammad Nawaz will be expected to do wonders with both bat and ball in the Asia Cup 2023. With the bat, he has the ability to take any bowling unit to the cleaners on his day. Batting in the lower-middle-order, his duty will be to don the role of a match-finisher. Along with Haris and Shadab, Nawaz also has the potential to come heavily on bowlers in the final overs of innings.

Discussing his overall batting numbers in ODIs, the left-handed batter has hit 283 runs in 22 innings of 28 matches at a strike rate of 87.34. However, Nawaz is yet to prove himself against quality sides as he hasn’t produced anything special against big teams such as New Zealand, and England.

This Asia Cup, he will get a chance to showcase his batting mettle and become a match-winner for Pakistan with the bat. In the bowling department, his performance is decent as the 29-year-old has claimed 37 wickets at an economy of 4.94. Nawaz will have to support Shadab Khan to bolster Pakistan’s spin attack

8. Shadab Khan

Shadab Khan. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Shadab Khan will lead Pakistan’s spin-bowling unit in the tournament. The 24-year-old has a lot of experience in white-ball cricket and he could take advantage of the spinning surfaces of Pakistan and Sri Lanka to trap batters with his brilliant leg-break bowling. In his six-year ODI career, he has taken 73 wickets in 56 contests at an economy of 5.13.

In the 2018 Asia Cup, Shadab struggled to be among the wickets. The Mianwali-born player took only four wickets in four matches at an economy of 5.20. This time, he will look to provide solid figures to his side with the ball. This year, he has played three ODIs in which he has taken three wickets at an economy of 5.79.

Shadab is handy with the bat as well down the order. There are a few instances to recount when the youngster helped Pakistan win matches with his batting calibre as well. In 33 innings, Shadab has scored 631 runs in 33 innings at a decent strike rate of 82.05. The right-handed player has scored four half-centuries as well in his ODI career.

9. Shaheen Shah Afridi

Shaheen Shah Afridi. (Pic source: Getty Images)

Eyes will be set on Shaheen Shah Afridi who will spearhead Pakistan’s phenomenal pace attack. Shaheen has the potential to win matches for Pakistan with his stupendous bowling talent. Back in the Asia Cup 2018, Shaheen was handed his ODI debut in the Super Four game against Afghanistan.

However, his maiden ODI series didn’t go well as he got only four wickets in three matches. In his five-year ODI career, the speedster has scalped 70 wickets in 36 games at an economy of 5.52. This year, he returned to the international circuit in April after recovering from a knee ligament injury.

Appearing in the home ODI series against New Zealand, he clinched eight wickets in four matches at an economy of 5.60. This time, Pakistan will arrive in the Asia Cup as the favourites and they will have a golden chance to clinch the Asia Cup trophy. Shaheen, who is one of the senior players in this squad, will strive to make a crucial contribution with the ball.

10. Naseem Shah

Naseem Shah (Photo Source: Twitter)

Young Naseem Shah has shown he can make it to the list of Pakistan’s greatest ODI bowlers in the upcoming years. He has played eight ODIs so far, in which he has racked up 23 wickets at an economy of 4.73. In Pakistan’s ODI win against the Black Caps in May this year, Naseem was the unsung hero.

Playing three games in the competition, the pacer took five wickets in three games at an economy of 4.26. Earlier, when Pakistan faced a 1-2 loss at home against New Zealand in January, the right-arm fast bowler ended up as the leading wicket-taker in the competition.

Playing two of three games of the series, he picked up eight wickets at an economy of 6.10. This year, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa-born player has been in sensational form, picking up 13 wickets in only five one-days at an economy of 5.00. The 20-year-old will be an important figure for the Men in Green in the marquee continental tournament.

11. Haris Rauf

Haris Rauf. ( Photo Source: Twitter/Haris Rauf)

Haris Rauf’s responsibility will be to demoralise opponents with the ball in the upcoming Asia Cup. The 29-year-old has the ability to trouble batters with his blazing pace and variations. Since his debut in October 2020, Rauf has fetched 39 wickets in 22 ODIs at an economy of 5.85.

This year, he has put up decent shows in ODIs, picking up 10 wickets in seven matches at an economy of 5.96. Playing the New Zealand series in April-May, the right-handed paceman became the leading wicket-taker with nine wickets in four games at an economy of 6.16.

Haris has played a majority of ODIs in Pakistan which makes him familiar with the sub-continent conditions. Playing 14 one-day matches in his nation, he has taken 20 wickets at an economy of 5.83. This year, the star Pakistan player has played a lot of cricket in Pakistan and considering that, his team’s fans will hope to see his best in the competition.