Harsha Bhogle Previews Pakistan’s Squad for ICC World Cup 2023 December 4, 2023

Abdullah Shafique and Imam ul Haq are currently the opening pair, and Bhogle expressed his support for them, highlighting the potential effects of their consistent play at the top of the order.

In the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023, Pakistan must have a strong opening pair and efficient spin bowling, according to Indian analyst Harsha Bhogle.

Speaking on Cricbuzz, Bhogle emphasized the importance of Pakistan’s opening combination and the demand for a strong partnership to support Babar Azam as the team’s captain.

There is often a lot of commotion surrounding Pakistan, but they must bat well. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are mentioned way too frequently in that section. If Babar has a really strong opening combination in front of him, I believe he becomes two players, Bhogle remarked.

Abdullah Shafique and Imam ul Haq are currently the opening pair, and Bhogle expressed his support for them, highlighting the potential effects of their dependable performances at the top of the order. The 62-year-old discussed Fakhar Zaman’s performance and emphasized the crucial part Babar will play in determining Pakistan’s results in the competition.

“They have a problem with Fakhar Zaman, but I think they’ve found their best opening lineup,” I said. Imam has recently performed quite well, but how could they avoid using a guy with such obvious talent as Abdullah Shafique? Babar will therefore suddenly change as a player if Abdullah Shafiq and Imam ul Haq receive regular starts, but there is absolutely no question that if Pakistan have to make an impact, Babar Azam has to have a big World Cup,” Bhogle asserted.

Pakistan’s middle order and spin bowling unit, which Bhogle thinks is the key to their success, were also topics of discussion.

They have a questionable middle order. I am aware that Rizwan, Salman Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Saud Shakeel are nearby; they are all talented athletes. Are they capable of winning a World Cup? We’ll observe and wait. If they do, Pakistan will benefit greatly. They do bat deep because all three of the selected spinners are capable of doing so. I believe Shadab is an extremely good batter in that order, and Nawaz is also a capable batter. Usama Mir can bat if he’s a leggie, but that’s when their trouble begins. Normally, when you look at Pakistan, you think, “Wow, what a great bowling side,”

Shaheen Afridi played a crucial role, and Bhogle emphasized it by referring to him as the team’s “bowling linchpin.”

“Shaheen Afridi in some ways is maybe even more essential than Babar Azam to their hopes because you saw in the Asia Cup what happens when he’s not collecting wickets in the first 10 overs. Pakistan would appear to be a much weaker bowling team if they don’t take any wickets during the powerplay. In comparison to Anrich Nortje, who was mentioned in relation to South Africa, Naseem Shah, in his opinion, is a huge loss.

They must succeed for their spinners. The key for Pakistan, in my opinion, will be whether or not their openers perform well and whether or not their middle-over spinners bowl well.