20-20 World Cup 2022: 5 Pakistan players who might be a threat for India in first match

India and Pakistan are all set to lock horns with each other once again in a major international tournament. Both teams will play their first match in the 20-20 World Cup 2022 on the 23^rd of October in Australia. Notably, it is the third time when both teams are playing against each other after the two met in the last year’s 20-20 World Cup.

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Recently, both teams faced each other in the Asia Cup 2022 in two matches including a group encounter and a super-4 match. The men in blue won the first match whereas Babar Azam’s men outplayed the Indians in the super-4 match.

With said that, here we’ll have a look at five Pakistani players who can possess a threat to the Indians in the first match of the campaign in the 20-20 World Cup.

Babar Azam

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Babar Azam (Image Source: Twitter)

The skipper and one of the modern-day great batters, Babar Azam has been in sensational form in the seven-match T20I series against England. Following the England series, he has also scored two half-centuries in the recently-concluded T20 tri-series against Bangladesh and New Zealand.

Speaking of his illustrious career, Babar has scored 3231 runs in 92 T20Is with a very good average of 43.66 with two centuries and 29 half-centuries to his name. Considering his current form, it can be said that Babar might be a big threat to team India in the first match if he sojourns there in the middle for some time.

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Mohammad Rizwan

Mohammad Rizwan (Image Source: Twitter)

The 30-year-old batting sensation has stunned and impressed everyone with an outstanding performance in the seven-match T20I Series against England. He scored 316 runs in six innings of six matches with an amazing average of 63.20 with four brilliant half-centuries to his name.

He also carried his form in the recently-concluded T20I tri-series against Bangladesh and New Zealand on the Kiwis’ soil. Rizwan smashed two half-centuries and played a crucial role in Pakistan’s winning run in the tri-national clash.

Asif Ali

The Punjabi right-hander batter has proved his worth for the national side of Pakistan in various crucial matches during major international tournaments. Asif Ali was a key factor in Pakistan’s run to the semi-finals in last year’s 20-20 World Cup in 2021.

He can play a vital role in the middle order for the men in green in their first match of this year’s 20-20 World Cup against India. Asif Ali is known for his role as a finisher in the slog overs of the match. The 31-year-old might play a defining role in Pakistan going in the chase of the target against India.

Haris Rauf

The guy belongs to the same town where the world’s fastest bowler Shoaib Akhtar born and brought up in Rawalpindi. Rauf ended up in the seven-match T20I series against England as the highest wicket-taker with eight scalps to his name in six innings of six matches to his name. His best performance in the series was when he scalped three wickets by conceding just 32 runs.

He also performed brilliantly in the recently-concluded T20I tri-series with six wickets in three innings of three matches he played. He ended up as the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the series following his compatriot Mohammad Wasim who claimed seven wickets in five matches.

Shaheen Afridi

Shaheen Afridi (Image Source: Twitter)

The Premier Pakistan speedster was not a part of the national side for the last couple of months due to a knee injury that he sustained during the Test series against Sri Lanka. Since then, he missed the Asia Cup 2022 followed by the T20I series against Bangladesh and New Zealand.

Now, it has been confirmed that Shaheen has recovered from the injury and he is set to make a comeback in international cricket. Speaking of his performance against India, he was the one who crumbled the Indian innings in last year’s meet in the 20-20 World Cup. The 22-year-scalped three major wickets of India including former skipper Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul.