Pakistan T20 World Cup 2024 SWOT Analysis : Strength, Weakness & Strongest Playing XI
Pakistan has been one of the most consistent teams in T20 World Cup history. They won the title in 2009 and were runners-up in 2007 and 2022. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Babar Azam will lead the team for the third time. Last time, they lost the final to England but aim to end their trophy drought this year.
Pakistan is in Group A with India, the USA, Canada, and Ireland. Their first match is against the USA on June 6 in Dallas, and they will face India on June 9. With some big names returning, Pakistan looks strong. Here’s a brief SWOT analysis for Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
Pakistan’s Strength for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024
Unpredictability Factor
Pakistan is rarely seen as the top favorite to win big tournaments, but they often perform well. In the last edition, despite being called a poor team after losing to India and Zimbabwe in the group stage, they reached the final.
Pakistan’s unpredictability is their biggest strength, allowing them to excel unexpectedly. They have the ability and players to turn things around, making them a team you can never write off.
Lethal Pace Unit
Pakistan has always been known for producing great fast bowlers, and their pace attack is a major strength heading into the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The return of Mohammad Amir boosts their bowling lineup, adding another left-arm option.
Shaheen Afridi is one of the best, while Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf are proven performers. Abbas Afridi has also shown consistency. This strong and varied pace attack will be Pakistan’s biggest strength in the tournament.
Pakistan’s Weaknesses for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024
Low Striker Rate of Top two
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are the key players for Pakistan and top the T20I rankings among Pakistani batters. They score over 50-60% of the team’s runs in this format. However, their career strike rates are below 130, which is considered low. This slow scoring rate has occasionally been a problem, and it’s an area that needs improvement.
Out-dated Approach
In modern T20 cricket, scoring 200 runs is common. Teams expect to score 200 or more in both innings. However, Pakistan last scored 200+ runs in September 2022, nearly two years ago. This could be a disadvantage against teams that consistently score big.
Pakistan’s captain often aims for 180-185 runs when batting first, but this seems outdated. In the high-scoring pitches of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, they need to adapt their mindset to chase or set 200+ runs.
Threat for Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024
The biggest challenge for Pakistan in the upcoming mega event is their middle order. They are still trying to find a settled batting lineup. At the top, they have tried Babar, Rizwan, and Saim Ayub. In the middle order, they have often used Shadab Khan, and sometimes Shaheen Afridi has batted higher up.
If players are unsure of their roles, it becomes hard for them to perform well. Additionally, Pakistan’s unpredictability can be a double-edged sword—they can beat any team, but they can also lose to any team. To succeed, they need to maintain their form, especially against weaker teams.
Strongest Playing XI for Pakistan in ICC T20 World Cup 2024 (Predicted)
Saim Ayub, Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Amir
Opportunities Ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024
The upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 is a great opportunity for players like Mohammed Amir and Imad Wasim, who are returning to the team for this tournament. They came out of retirement for this event, and if Pakistan performs well, they might continue playing for a few more years.
