Best Pakistan Playing 11 for Asia Cup 2023 Revealed

Best Pakistan Playing 11 for Asia Cup 2023 Revealed. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 17-member squad for the Asia Cup 2023. They are placed in Group A along with India and Nepal. The Men in Gree begin their campaign against Nepal in Multan on August 30.

Pakistan then plays against arch-rivals India on September 2 in Pallekele. Pakistan are the host of the Asia Cup but the tournament is being played in a hybrid model. Four matches will be played in Pakistan while nine matches including the final in Sri Lanka. The matches start from 1 pm and 3.30 pm IST.

Pakistan have won the Asia Cup twice. They won the continental tournament in 2012. This time around their potent bowling lineup keeps them head and shoulders above the other teams. The trio of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah have been bowling at full tilt and sending out warnings to other teams in the process.

They have a well-organized squad. It is all down to choosing the best XI depending upon the conditions and ensuring that they have the variety and the depth in their squad against all the teams. They certainly have the squad to win the tournament.

Babar Azam will be leading the side. This is his second Asia Cup as the captain of the side. He will need to lead by example with the bat. Along with him, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-Ul-Haq, and Mohammad Haris are the key batters in the team. In Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz, they have two worthy all-rounders. In this article, we choose the best playing XI for Pakistan for Asia Cup 2023.

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Best Pakistan Playing 11 for Asia Cup 2023 Revealed

Fakhar Zaman

Fakhar should open the batting for Pakistan. He is a naturally attacking player and scores runs quickly. His job will be to get his team off to a flier. Against India particularly he will have his task cut out. He has a good track record against India with the century previously in CT 2017 final.

Imam-Ul-Haq

Imam will open the batting with Fakhar. He generally plays the sheet anchor’s role batting through the innings. He is the more classical of the two who looks to build an innings and set the platform for his team.

Babar Azam (C)

Babar will bat at three. He is another batter who likes to build an innings and allow others to score runs quickly around him. He needs to be in good form for Pakistan to win the tournament. He is yet to score an ODI century against India but maybe he will do it in this tournament.

Mohammad Rizwan (WK)

Rizwan should ideally bat after Babar. In case they have the opportunity to bat together they know exactly at what pace to play having opened in T20Is for a long time now. Rizwan is a busy player who scores quickly in the middle overs.

Mohammad Haris

Haris should be selected in the playing XI ahead of Iftikhar Ahmed. The youngster led Pakistan to the ACC Emerging Asia Cup recently. He is a keeper-batsman and a hard-hitter down the order. He is known for his big hits and timely cameos which should be useful for his team.

Mohammad Nawaz

Nawaz should come back into the ODI squad for Pakistan. He is a good left-arm spinner and has good potential with the bat to hit the long ball in the final overs. He and Shadab Khan will be the specialist spinners in the side as well.

Shadab Khan

Shadab will slot in at seven. His batting at seven extends Pakistan’s batting lineup that bit longer. He has a reputation for playing important knocks for his team and he will be required to do that. With the ball, he is the first-choice spinner.

Shaheen Afridi

Sheheen can bat at eight. Off late he has been really useful with the bat. However, his main job will be to take wickets with the new ball. He gets seam and swing movement early in his spell and that is when he is the toughest bowler to face.

Haris Rauf

Haris will be the second seamer in this Pakistan lineup. He is fresh from his maiden fifer that bundled out Afghanistan for just 59 in the first ODI. He too gets the ball to swing early.

Naseem Shah

Naseem will be the third seamer to complete this deadly trio. He can bowl at any phase of the innings and is a wicket-taking option for his spinner. He also gets the ball to seam and swing in the early overs.

Usama Mir

Mir concludes the strongest Pakistan playing XI for Asia Cup 2023. He is the third specialist spinner in the side and the sixth bowling option for his side.

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