So, Saturday marks the start the Super 8 stage in the ongoing T20 World Cup, where Pakistan take on New Zealand at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. ON paper, these two teams look equally strong, with PAK maybe having a better set of spinners, while the Kiwis having the better batters.
But then the pressure will be immense, and both sides have a few concerns coming into the clash. For PAK, the form of Babar Azam, and for NZ, if they need to bring an extra spinner into the side, in form of Ish Sodhi. SO, Insidesport takes a look at the predicted XI for Pakistan.
Opening remains same, Babar Azam stays
Saim Ayub might not be delivering with the bat, but his spin will be needed vs New Zealand. Against India he did pick up three wickets, so he stays. Meanwhile, Sahibzada Farhan scored a century in the last match vs Namibia, so no confusion there. Coming to Babar, this would be a surface where a batter who plays along the carpet, will be needed.
Drop Shaheen Shah, Get in Nassem
If Shaheen is not delivering, it is high time that Pakistan get Naseem Shah in the side. He has just been warming the bench for some strange reason, while Shaheen continues to be poor. IN fact, the side needs to be a little brave, and axe the under-performing Shadab Khan, and can even look at Salman Mirza. They need not worry about the spin attack, and are already well-equipped.
Predicted Pakistan playing XI
Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq, Naseem Shah.
