Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan’s Squad For The Tournament

Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan’s Predicted Squad For The Tournament: Pakistan will commence their Asia Cup 2023 journey with the opening game of the tournament. Pakistan will face Nepal in the Asia Cup 2023 opener on August 30. Pakistan is part of group A in the tournament, along with India and Nepal.

Last year, Pakistan showed wonderful form in the Asia Cup tournament by reaching the final. However, the Babar Azam-led side lost the title to Sri Lanka. This time, Pakistan will seek to grab the trophy. Pakistan will also benefit from the home advantage in the initial stage. Here we talk about Pakistan’s predicted squad for Asia Cup 2023.

Babar Azam will be leading Pakistan in the forthcoming edition of the tournament.

Openers: Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq

Middle order: Babar Azam (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Tayyab Tahir, and Saud Shakeel (only for Afghanistan series).

Wicketkeepers: Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Haris

Spinners: Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Mohammad Nawaz and Usama Mir

Pace all-rounder: Faheem Ashraf

Pacers: Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi

Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan’s Predicted Squad For The Tournament

Openers- Fakhar Zaman & Imam-ul-Haq

For the openers, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq will be picked by Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023. Both of them have shown spectacular form in ODIs this year. With 3 centuries and 1 fifty, left-handed batsman Zaman is the leading run-getter for Pakistan with 520 runs. Left-handed Imam-ul-Haw has mustered 191 runs in 5 ODis this year, averaging 38.20.

Middle-Order Batters- Babar Azam (C), Khushdil Shah, Iftikhar Ahmed

Babar Azam is the skipper of Pakistan and will lead the team in Asia Cup 2023. The right-handed batsman will be a crucial batsman at one-down. Continuing with his fabulous form this year, the Pakistan captain has slammed 425 runs in 8 ODIs at an average of 53+. He also smacked 1 ton and 4 half-centuries.

Khushdil Shah will be another crucial middle-order batsman for the team. Shah has played 9 ODI games since 2022 and scored 166 runs at an average of 33.20. Iftikhar Ahmed has played 2 ODI games this year, in which he shattered 122 runs with an unbeaten knock of 94 runs.

Wicketkeepers- Mohammad Rizwan & Mohammad Haris

Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Haris might be choices for wicketkeepers in Asia Cup 2023. Rizwan is also a key middle-order batter for Pakistan. This year, he scored 343 runs in 5 games at a marvellous average of 68.80.

He also slammed 3 half-centuries. Mohammad Haris might be the backup wicketkeeper. The youngster has only played 5 ODI games in which he scored 27 runs.

All-Rounders- Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr

For the all-rounders, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Wasim Jr can be inducted into the Pakistan squad in Asia Cup 2023. While Wasim will be a medium-pace all-rounder, Shadab Khan and Agha Salman will be spin all-rounders.

Shadab Khan has picked 3 wickets and 35 runs in 3 ODI games this year. Salman has shown a marvellous form. He has scored 236 runs and picked 3 wickets. Mohammad Wasim Jr has scored 23 runs and grabbed 9 wickets in 6 ODIs.

Spinners- Mohammad Nawaz & Usama Mir

For the spinners, Usama Mir and Mohammad Nawaz might be among the favourite picks for Pakistan in Asia Cup 2023. Nawaz is an experienced spinner for the team. The left-arm off-spinner has grabbed 6 wickets in 6 games this year.

Usama Mir has hunted 10 wickets in 6 games in 2023. Both of them have been outstanding performers in ODIs since the start of 2023.

Pacers- Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf

For the pacers, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf might be inducted into the Pakistan squad for Asia Cup 2023. Currently, these three pacers are the most prominent pacers for the team in white-ball formats.

Shah is the leading wicket-taker for the team in 2023, with 13 scalps in 5 ODI games. Haris Rauf follows him with 10 scalps in 7 games. Left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi has grabbed 8 wickets in 4 ODIs this year. He will be the most lethal weapon for the team in the pace department during Asia Cup 2023.