20-20 World Cup 2022: Predicted Playing XI of Pakistan for first match against India

Two Asian giants and arch-rivals India and Pakistan will lock horns in the much-anticipated encounter of the 20-20 World Cup 2022. Both teams will play this match on the 23^rd of October next week this month. Speaking first of the men in blue, they have faced a major blow ahead of the marquee event as the senior pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the entire tournament.

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Whereas on the other hand, ace Pakistan speedster Shaheen Shah Afridi is making a comeback in the national squad after long hiatus due to the injury he sustained on the Sri Lanka tour during the Test series. Having said that, here we’ll have a look at the predicted playing XI of Pakistan for their first match against India in the 20-20 World Cup 2022.

Here’s a look at Pakistan’s predicted playing XI of Pakistan for the first match against India in the 20-20 World Cup 2022

Babar Azam

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Babar Azam (Image Source: Twitter)

Star Pakistan batter and skipper Babar Azam is undoubtedly one of the brilliant batters in modern-day cricket. He has produced some brilliant knocks for the men in the green of late. Babar had been in excellent form during the recently-concluded seven-match T20I series against England. He is all set to lead the team once again in the 20-20 World Cup against the arch-rivals India in their first match of the tournament.

Mohammad Rizwan

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The Peshawar-based batting sensation has amazed and impressed everyone with his consistency in the shortest format of the game in recent times. He has smashed numerous consecutive half-centuries during his last few appearances in the T20I cricket. Mohammad Rizwan is likely to open the innings for Pakistan in the much-awaited encounter against India.

Shan Masood

The 32-year-old senior batter has made a comeback to international cricket in a style. He caught the eyeballs of the cricketing fraternity with his amazing performances in the English County Championship. He made a debut for Pakistan in the quickest format of the game in the recently-concluded series against England. On the back of his recent performances, Shan Masood earned a call to the World Cup squad of Pakistan. He is also likely to bat at number three for Pakistan in the first match against India.

Haider Ali

Young middle-order batter Haider Ali made his first T20I appearance for Pakistan two years back in the year 2020. Since then, he has played 29 matches in the format and scored three half-centuries. He can be a vital element for the men in green during the eighth edition of the 20-20 World Cup.

Iftikhar Ahmed

Another middle-order batter Iftikhar Ahmed is also a part of the Pakistani team during the ongoing tri-series against New Zealand and Bangladesh in New Zealand. The 32-year-old middle-order batter earned a call to the World Cup squad on the back of his experience in the shortest of the game. He might be a key factor in the middle order of Pakistan.

Asif Ali

The senior Punjabi lad has played more than 50 T20Is. He played a crucial role in Pakistan’s win in the super-4 match of the Asia Cup 2022 against India. Asif Ali can be a great factor for Pakistan at the crucial juncture in the match between the lower middle-order and tail of the team. Asif Ali is also in the squad during the ongoing tri-series against Bangladesh and New Zealand.

Shadab Khan

Shadab Khan ( Image Credit: Twitter)

Senior bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan will also be there in the role of vice-captain of the team during the marquee event in Australia. He can provide some vital contributions both with the bat and the ball. Shadab might prove dangerous with the ball to the opponent batters in the middle overs of the match. The Mianwali-based cricketer has played 75 T20Is for Pakistan since his debut in this very format of the game.

Mohammad Nawaz

Star all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz produced some crucial performances with the ball for Pakistan lately. He has scalped four wickets in the ongoing tri-series in New Zealand. Since his T20I debut for Pakistan in 2016, Nawaz has played 46 T20Is and scalped 42 wickets with the ball. The 28-year-old spin-all-rounder might play a crucial role in the spin bowling department for the men in green alongside vice-captain Shadab Khan.

Naseem Shah

The pace bowling sensation for Pakistan in Test cricket, Naseem Shah has amazed and impressed everyone in the cricketing fraternity in the longest format of the game. After enjoying a successful time in Test cricket, Naseem made his international debut in white-ball cricket only two months back in August this year. Since his T20I debut in the Asia Cup 2022, he has played seven T20I matches for the men in green and scalped seven wickets.

Haris Rauf

Star pacer from Rawalpindi, Haris Rauf has left everyone stunned with his recent performances for Pakistan. The 28-year-old has scalped nine wickets in the last T20I appearances for Pakistan including the T20I series against England followed by the tri-series in New Zealand. Haris might produce some great stuff with the bowl in the first match of the tournament against India.  Speaking of his T20I career, Rauf has scalped 62 wickets in 49 matches while playing for the national side.

Shaheen Shah Afridi

Shaheen Shah Afridi was the one who crumbled the Indian innings in the match during last year’s 20-20 World Cup in 2021. He went on to scalp the three big wickets of the Indian team including the likes of Rohit Sharma, skipper Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul. Although, he was missing international cricket of late due to a knee injury. But it is confirmed that the 22-year-old premier speedster is set to make his comeback in the first match of the tournament against India.