Asia Cup 2023: SWOT analysis of Pakistan squad as Babar Azam's side aim to win first title since 2012

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After the 3-0 drubbing of Afghanistan, Babar Azam-led Pakistan are gearing up to end their decade-long wait to win the Asia Cup. As always, Pakistan is entering the six-team even as one of the favourites. The side is known to bring their game in multi-nation events, and nothing but a tremendous show of grit and passion will be on display from the Asia Cup 2023 hosts.

The newly-crowned number one ranked ODI team has a lot of flair in their 17-member squad which saw a late change as Saud Shakeel was brought in the main squad with Tayyab Tahir set to travel as a reserve player now.

The move has understandably been taken keeping in view the slow and spin friendly surfaces in Sri Lanka where Shakeel's batting prowess can come handy. The right-hander was in top form and scored a double hundred during the recent 2-match Test series in the island nation.

But have Pakistan really got themselves covered in all the departments of the game? Let's have a look through SWOT analysis of Pakistan squad for the Asia Cup 2023.

Strength: Without a shadow of doubt, Pakistan's pace attack is their biggest strength despite the tournament being played in sub-continent conditions. Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf have got in them what it takes to breathe fire on the slowest of surfaces in the world. Their rare and precious talent was on display during the first ODI against Afghanistan when they bundled out the opposition for 59 runs.

The likes of Mohammad Wasim Jnr and Faheem Ashraf also looked lethal in the third and final ODI as Naseem and Rauf were rested. The depth of Pakistan's bowling unit looks dangerous. Two left-arm pacers in Shaheen and Ashraf and three right-hand express pacers in Naseem, Rauf and Wasim can be too hot to handle for the opposition.

Weakness: The Pakistan batting unit is expected to revolve manly around Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq. Babar is the number one ranked ODI batter in the world, while Imam is occupying the third spot. Senior opener Fakhar Zaman has been found wanting against quality spin bowling and things won't at all be easy for him in Sri Lanka. In the recently-concluded ODI series against Afghanistan, the southpaw scored 2, 30 and 27 in the three innings. He can emerge as the weak link in the Pakistan top-order.

Further, the Pakistan middle-order has its own issue. Agha Salman is not experienced, and Iftikhar Ahmed has one fifty to his name in his 14-match ODI career. Abdullah Shafique has played just three ODI matches to score 28 runs at an average of 9.33.

Mohammad Rizwan is a gritty campaigner but his ODI numbers are far from impressive when compared to his blazing T20I career. He averages 49.07 in T20Is and 34.04 in the 50-over format. Saud Shakeel also lacks experience and has an experience of six ODIs. Regardless, batting in a high-profile event like the Asia Cup tests a lot of other things apart from the batting skills.

Quite clearly there is dearth of experience in the Pakistan batting unit. In case the top-order fails, Pakistan would be in tatters.

Opportunity: Babar Azam will have the great opportunity to prove his leadership and be back to his top form. There were rumours that Babar Azam's captaincy was under scrutiny and a section in the PCB wanted him to be sacked from the role.

Babar Azam opted to play in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023 to get a hang of the Sri Lankan conditions. He smashed a hundred and a fifty but registered scores of 11, 9 and six in his last three innings as his side failed to make it to the qualifiers. He was dismissed for a duck in the first ODI against Afghanistan in Sri Lanka.

There is an opportunity for Babar Azam to lead from the front and show why there isn’t a better person to captain the Pakistan cricket team. Likewise, Imam-ul-Haq will also have the chance to make a name for himself. He averages 51.50 in ODI cricket and a strong show in the Asia Cup 2023 would see him rise in stature significantly.

Threat: Pakistan have one specialist spinner in Usama Mir in their squad, however, Shadab Khan would be seen playing the lead role. Salman Agha is a part-time off-spinner, and left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz also gives an option, but again as a part-timer. The summary is that Shadab is the only spinner who has the capability to intimidate the oppositions.

In complete contrast to the pace unit, the spin department lacks the sting. India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have plenty of players who are excellent against spin. The same can come to haunt Pakistan.

Pakistan Squad for Asia Cup 2023: Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir (travelling reserve).