2007 Cricket World Cup Squad Preview - Pakistan

by user Alex Holowczak

The 1992 World Champions will look to win the title for the second time this year.

They are drawn in the same group as the host nation, the West Indies, and their group also includes Ireland and Zimbabwe. They should win the group, but West Indies on home soil may prove a difficult win.

Inzamam-ul-Haq

Type: Batsman, Captain
Inzamam is instantly recognisable. His paunch is often the source of more attention than his batting, which is a shame because he is one of the best in the world. He is also proving a good captain for his country. The crowd is on the edge of their seat whenever he chases the ball in the field, and he definitely prefers a boundary to a quick single. Still, an excellent batsman that can win games single-handedly. This World Cup will probably be his last.

Abdul Razzaq

Type: All Rounder
Razzaq is a key performer in this side. He is capable of blowing teams away with bat or ball, and is a natural selection in this team.

Danish Kaneria

Type: Bowler
Initially an excellent spinner, Kaneria has since dropped off in recent months, and his average reflects this. He is still likely to get a birth in the team however come the World Cup.

Ifitkhar Anjum

Type: Bowler
A shock inclusion, Anjum is a bowler that has profited from batting late on and getting a few not outs. As a bowler, he has been less than inspired, and he could struggle in the West Indies. Picked ahead of Mohammed Sami, or even Salman Butt.

Imran Nazir

Type: Batsman (opener)
This talented opener was selected ahead of the proven Salman Butt, although his record doesn’t necessarily back this up. A dubious selection.

Kamran Akmal

Type: Batsman, Wicketkeeper
Akmal is a brilliant wicketkeeper and an exciting batsman. He may be promoted to open the innings in the absence of a second recognised opener.

Mohammed Asif

Type: Bowler
Asif is the most improved Pakistani in the squad according to his coach, but he is still to prove he is the best in One Day cricket. He is undoubtedly better in the longer versions of the game.

Mohammed Hafeez

Type: All Rounder (opener)
Hafeez has yet to perform in One Day cricket, and his ability to bowl off-spin may help him break into the side. May not play early on.

Mohammed Yousuf

Type: Batsman
Yousuf is overtaking Inzamam as the best batsman in this Pakistani side. He is capable of scoring big innings in little time, and could be a star of the tournament, in which he first played 8 years ago.

Naved-ul-Hasan

Type: Bowler
A One Day International specialist, Hasan is still a bit inconsistent at the top level. Likely to start early on for the Pakistanis.

Shahid Afridi

Type: All Rounder
Initially a leg-spinner, Afridi pinch-hitted his way to the fastest ever 100, scored off 37 balls at the age of 16. Still only 26, he has won almost 250 ODI caps for Pakistan. He converted to a batsman, but is now focusing on his all-round game as well as his slugging compulsion to help his team. Could be the Lance Klusener of 1999.

Shoaib Akhtar

Type: Bowler
The only true proven great Pakistani fast bowler, Akhtar is the fastest in the world. He is a star of the tournament in the making. They call him the “Rawalpindi Express”, and that’s not because he keeps breaking down.

Shoaib Malik

Type: All Rounder (opener)
Another possible opener, Malik has proven himself a reliable batsman in both Test and One Day cricket for Pakistan. He can bowl good spinners, which are better suited to the One Day game.

Umar Gul

Type: Bowler
Gul hasn’t the experience at the top level quite yet, but he has so far proven himself to be reliable with the ball in his hand.

Younis Khan

Type: Batsman
Younis Khan is another World Class Pakistani batsman. In the same quality as Inzamam and Mohammed Yousuf, he should be part of a strong middle order for Pakistan.

Strengths

• Middle order of Mohammed Yousuf, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Younis Khan.
• Shahid Afridi
• Star fast bowler in Shoaib Akhtar

Weaknesses

• Lack of reliable depth to seam bowling
• Shahid Afridi
• No backup wicketkeeper
• Inzamam-ul-Haq’s fielding and running between the wickets

Verdict

Watching Pakistan will be fun. They have the stars in Akhtar, their middle order trio and Afridi that can win games on their own. They have many other decent players that could be inspired to perform better with the influence of the side. On paper, it is tough to beat. Question marks remain about the bowling, but I can see them challenging for the title, and a Semi Final birth would be the performance I expect off this team. They have a strong side on paper, and they should beat off tough competition for a Semi Final place.