With their greatest ever cricket all rounder icon Imran Khan winning the national election and elected as Prime Minister Pakistan Cricket has now wind in the sail.
They have arguably the best balanced bowling attack. They also have some impact players who are so very important in the limited format of the game. Moreover, they are playing consistently well recently. The tournament will be played in UAE, the adopted home of Pakistan for international cricket over the past several years. Pakistan is among the top favourites of the tournament. They have just announced a 18 member squad.
FakharZaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, HarisSohail, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, ImadWasim, Hassan Ali, Usman Khan Shinwari, Mohammed Amir, Junaid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Faheem Ashraf.
Pakistan is grouped with their traditional rival India along with one would be qualifier from among the six associate member countries. These two fearsome contestants have not met against each other since Pakistan out gunned favourite India in the Champions trophy in 2017.
FakharZaman played a blinder and Amir blew the Indian top order like a blitz . Those two players more matured are still there. Add to that Hasan Ali, JunaidKhan ,Usman Khan , Fahim Ashraf and Shadab Khan .Pakistan has match winning bowling attack . Nephew of the great InzamamUlHuq , Imam-Ul –Haque is now an able opening partner of Fakhar for destroying and decimating opposition attack. Mohammad Hafiz and Shoaib Malik are seasoned campaigners . Babar Azam is a quality batsman of JavedMiandadmould .Sarfraz ,Asaif Ali and Fahim Ashraf are great finishers . Pakistan is well equipped for challenging the best of the best in the tournament. India , Bangladesh and Sri Lanka would have to play out of their skins to compete with Pakistan.
We do not say it will easy sailing for any of four teams Pakistan, India , Bangladesh and Sri Lanka winning the trophy .But on paper Pakistan appears hot favourite .With India deciding to rest ViratKohli Pakistan starts favourite .
The effect Imran Khan among other things has already been seen in Pakistan Cricket . PCB already has Ehsan Mani back in the helm. Other crucial changes are in the offing. It will be great for World Cricket if Pakistan regains its supremacy in World Cricket and international cricket returns to Pakistan .More India Pakistan Cricket would normalize tension and would go a long way in creating lasting peace in the region. We heard even the group stage match of Pakistan and India is already sold out.
BDST: 2217 HRS, SEP 1, 2018
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