Pakistan is preparing for their inaugural Super 4 match in the 2023 Asia Cup scheduled for Wednesday at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The Pakistani national team, often referred to as the “Men in Green,” is set to take on the second-placed team from Group B, which includes Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
Leading the batting lineup, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq will be the opening pair, while Babar Azam aims to maintain his outstanding form, exemplified by his remarkable score of 151 against Nepal.
In the batting order, Mohammad Rizwan, the wicketkeeper-batsman, will occupy the number four position. Salman Agha and Iftikhar Ahmed will assume the fifth and sixth spots, respectively.
Despite their expensive performance in the previous match against India, Pakistan is likely to retain their spin-bowling all-rounders, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz.
The final three positions in the lineup will be filled by the formidable fast-bowling trio of Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah, renowned for their explosive pace and ability to unsettle opposing batsmen. This Pakistani trio made history in the aforementioned match against India, becoming the first set of pacers to capture all 10 wickets in an Asia Cup One-Day International (ODI) match.
Expected Playing XI for Pakistan:
- Fakhar Zaman
- Imam ul Haq
- Babar Azam (Captain)
- Mohammad Rizwan (Wicketkeeper)
- Agha Salman
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Shadab Khan
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Shaheen Afridi
- Naseem Shah
- Haris Rauf
Pakistan Squad for the Asia Cup:
- Abdullah Shafique
- Fakhar Zaman
- Imam-ul-Haq
- Babar Azam (Captain)
- Salman Ali Agha
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Saud Shakeel
- Mohammad Rizwan
- Mohammad Haris
- Shadab Khan (Vice-Captain)
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Usama Mir
- Faheem Ashraf
- Haris Rauf
- Mohammad Wasim Jr.
- Naseem Shah
- Shaheen Afridi