Asia Cup 2018: Super Four, Match 6, Pakistan vs Bangladesh - Pakistan Predicted XI

Pakistan will be up against Bangladesh in a virtual semi-final clash on Wednesday. Their opponents will be high on confidence after beating Afghanistan in the last-ball thriller and with a place in the final up for grabs, both the teams will give it all in this encounter. There is no doubt that the game will be a close one but Pakistan will be under a lot of pressure after the way they lost their previous game against India.

Sarfraz Ahmed‘s decision to bat first after winning the toss came under severe scanner as they once again posted a below-par total. Their bowling attack, surprisingly, hasn’t been up to the mark at all which is a grave concern for the Men in Green. The captain and the coach will be pondering for a few changes after a lacklustre show and a mistake in this game will end their campaign prematurely as they were touted as the favourites when the tournament began.

Here we bring you Pakistan’s predicted XI for this crucial match:

Openers (Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq)

Fakhar Zaman has looked completely out of touch so far in the tournament. It looked like he will be able to replicate his 2017 heroics against India in the previous game but got into an ugly tangle while playing a sweep shot and was sent back after scoring 30 odd runs. He remains the key for his team if they are expecting a quickfire start from their top order.

Imam-ul-Haq is also under pressure after a couple of low scores and has to play a significant knock now in the must-win game. The left-hander though has looked more assured compared to his partner and the team management will bank more on him to score runs at a decent pace.

Middle-Order (Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (c & wk), Asif Ali)

Babar Azam and Shoaib Malik are the most important players in this line-up with calm heads on their shoulders. They will have to take the charge in the middle overs irrespective of the start Pakistan will get. Both have the ability to rotate the strike and can keep the scoreboard ticking comfortably. Malik has been in amazing form and if he stays until the end, then his team more often than not wins the match.

Sarfraz Ahmed came back to the form a bit against the arch-rivals. However, he got out playing a bad shot when the team needed him the most. Nevertheless, the 40-run knock must have given him some much-needed confidence with the willow in hand. Asif Ali has the talent and he showed it by pummeling Bhuvneshwar Kumar for more than 20 overs in a single over. But his inexperience proves to be his undoing everytime. It is time for him to play a decent knock before going for big shots.

All-Rounders (Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz)

The all-rounders form the spin attack of Pakistan. Both looked ineffective in the last game and are important for the team’s fortunes in this match. Their batting prowess will also be tested in case the top-order flounders once again. Shadab is a quality leggie and the skipper Sarfraz would feel that he will be the important bowler for them when it comes to picking quick wickets.

Bowlers (Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan, Shaheen Afridi)

The pace bowlers have come under the scanner and it goes without saying that their reputation is on the line after going wicketless in the India game. Hasan Ali played a lot of mind games ahead of the tournament but has oddly looked off colour. He will have to bring his ‘A’ game to the fore if the Men in Green are hoping to turn around their troubled campaign.

Junaid Khan has to get a game after Mohammad Amir’s yet another wicketless outing. The talented left-arm pacer being benched has left many cricket experts perplexed and it is time that the management realises his importance. Shaheen Afridi should hope that the fielders support. In his two ODIs so far, as many as four catches have been dropped and the youngster would be itching to bowl a match-winning spell for his team in a crunch game.

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