Pakistan v World XI, 1st T20I - Pakistan's predicted XI

After all the adversities they’ve gone through, Pakistan is finally going to host an International game in its real fortress, Lahore. Courtesy an impeccable effort from its board, the land which provided so many magical cricketing moments over the past is all set to stage a grand event which breaks all the dead locks and resurrects the long lost temerity.

Their fans have been waiting for a long time to witness proper cricketing action in their nearest stadiums and the way tickets for this game got sold like hot dogs speak volumes of how eagerly they are waiting for this extravaganza. Though Zimbabwe did tour the country a couple of years ago, people will mark this tour as the resurgence of Pakistan.

In less than 24 hours, the likes of Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla, George Bailey, David Miller and Tamil Iqbal will take the center stage and they are bound to receive a sportive reception from the crowd. Not many cricketers are still daring to go to Pakistan but for the betterment of gentlemen’s game, these players have consented to get on board and this indeed is a great gesture from all these super stars of the generation.

All the regulars from the Pakistani side have been roped in and the side which is still in the euphoria of the Champions Trophy triumph will have might challenge ahead of them. Here’s the predicted XI of the side who will be donning the green jersey in Lahore after nearly a decade.

Fakhar Zaman

The swashbuckling opener stole the headlines with his impressive rendition in the Champions Trophy, especially in the final against India. Tailor-made for T20 cricket, Fakhar Zaman can provide a blazing start to his start given he gets going right from the outset.

Ahmed Shehzad

It’s always good to have cool and experienced campaigners on your side and Ahmed Shehzad is definitely one of them. He has been a part of this side throughout its rough and purple patches over the last 5-6 years and if he can play the second fiddle to Fakhar Zaman just the way he did in the Champions Trophy final, he can consider his job is done.

Babar Azam

One of the few complete batsmen in the side, Babar Azam brings in a lot of versatility into the side. The highly rated batsman is often compared to the likes of the current “Fab 4″(Smith, Kohli, Williamson, and Root) though he still has a long way to go. It’ll be interesting to see how he copes with the magnitude of the occasion.

Shoaib Malik

Shoaib Malik has been a true champion for his country and he has been an integral part of the team in the last decade and a half. The 35-year-old was the most influential and fan favorite player of the side when Pakistan played cricket regularly on its home turf. He still has a lot to offer and his experience will be pivotal whilst combating a team of such high caliber.

Sarfraz Ahmed (Captain and Wicket-keeper)

The man who became only the third Pakistani to lift an ICC Trophy as a captain, Sarfraz Ahmed has been a revelation in recent times. He played a crucial role in his side’s success in the Champions Trophy, playing one of the knocks of a lifetime against Sri Lanka in the group stages. He will go down in the record books as a proud leader of this contingent which was a part of this spectacular event.

Mohammad Nawaz

The youngster from Rawalpindi, Mohammad Nawaz announced his arrival into the elite level with a terrific rendition in the PSL 2016. The southpaw can roll his arm over for a few overs as well, providing a much-needed balance to the side.

Imad Wasim

Another important all-rounder in the unit, Imad Wasim is one of Sarfraz’s key weapons on the battlefield. The 28-year-old often surprises people with the talent he is and though he tends to become a bit predictable at times, he has the backing of his skipper and management.

Shadab Khan

The 18-year-old Shadab Khan spun a web around some top class batters in the world and has caught great attention at a relatively young age. He played a crucial role in Trinbago Knight Riders’ CPL 2017 triumph and is full of confidence going into this massive game. The World XI batsmen will have a tough time facing him given the track offers a little assistance.

Sohail Khan

Their spearhead Mohammad Amir is most likely to miss out as he is on a paternity leave and that passes on the responsibility to Sohail Khan. Being the senior most bowler in the side, he will lead the bowling contingent and will be guiding the likes of Hasan Ali and Rumman Raees.

Hasan Ali

After finishing as the highest wicket-taker in the Champions Trophy, Hasan Ali had a spectacular CPL campaign as well. The fast bowler is blessed with raw pace and fitness and he will face one of the biggest challenges on Tuesday and their fans would be expecting him to bring out his trademark celebration by picking up some crucial wickets.

Rumman Raees

Rumman Raees will be replacing Mohammad Amir as the left-arm seamer in the attack. The 25-year-old has been impressive in the opportunities he has been getting off late and to fill in the boots of Amir won’t make his job easy on the match day. Nevertheless, he will savor this occasion and will take great pride in seeing his name in the playing XI of such an important game.