Five things to know about the Pakistan team to play at the World Twenty20 tournament in Bangladesh
National attention
Bomb blasts, a weak economy and continual changes within the game’s national governing body become mere minor distractions for Pakistan’s cricket-mad population of 190 million whenever the team participates in major tournaments.
With the cricket world shying away from touring Pakistan since a 2009 terror attack, cricket-starved fans will be closely following the World T20 and hoping for victory – particularly against arch-rival India.
Expect the unexpected
No matter how hard the opposition studies any weak links in the Pakistan team, they are seldom prepared for what they face in match conditions.
On any given day Pakistan’s skills can surprise the strongest teams in the world, but then come the inexplicable losses to weaker teams.
Shahid Afridi
The power hitting of Afridi can tear apart any bowling attack, as he showed during the recent Asia Cup with his two blistering knocks against India and Bangladesh.
The enigmatic all-rounder has teammates and fans worried as he strives to recover from a hamstring injury in time to play against two tough group rivals – India and Australia.
Bowled over
Bowling has been the mainstay of Pakistan’s set up in the three formats of the game. The bowling attack for this tournament includes T20’s top three wicket-takers in Saeed Ajmal (81), Umar Gul (74) and Afridi (73).
The three contributed to Pakistan’s victory in the 2009 World T20, their run to the 2007 final and to the semi-finals in 2010 and 2012. Fast bowler Junaid Khan and captain Mohammad Hafeez also give extra impetus to the Pakistan attack.
Batting weakness
Pakistan is yet to find a replacement for hard-hitting Misbah-ul-Haq, who quit international T20s in 2012 but still – at age 39 – represents his hometown in domestic tournaments.
A relatively inexperienced Pakistan top order has struggled against quality bowling, forcing selectors to recall Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal for the Bangladesh event.
The absence of Pakistan players from the world’s richest domestic league, the Indian Premier League, also deprives them of an opportunity to sharpen their skills against the world’s quality bowlers.
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