ICC ODI World Cup 2023: Pakistan Cricket Team SWOT Analysis and Strongest Playing 11

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ICC ODI World Cup 2023: The ICC marquee event is all set to kick off from October 5 and Pakistan enter the tournament once again as the favourites. Pakistan might have looked off-coloured in the Asia Cup 2023 but one should not forget that they were recently the number one ranked ODI team.

They also have this very peculiar habit of peaking in the ICC events and punching above their weight. However, the current Pakistan ODI team has been rated well-balanced by many former cricketers and experts.

In their first warm-up match in Hyderabad, they piled up 345/5 as their batters looked in good knick. Notably, only Agha Salman and Mohammad Nawaz from the 15-member Pakistan World Cup 2023 squad have earlier played in India.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam is confident of his team's chances of lifting the coveted trophy for the first time after 1992 but is their journey going to be that easy for the Men in Green?

As Pakistan gears up for the crucial campaign, let's do a SWOT analysis on the Pakistan team.

Strength

A few weeks ago, Pakistan's bowling was their biggest strength. But things do change fast. Pakistan would be aiming to put on a show with their batting display. Pakistan posted almost a 350-run total in their first warm-up match against New Zealand and their batters looked really comfortable in the middle.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were amongst runs as usual. With Saud Shakeel and Agha Salman also scoring in the match at a brisk rate Pakistan batting unit looked better than what it looked in the Asia Cup.

Full-strength opponents in the main event would pose a fresh challenge for them but there is a feeling that the batting unit led by Babar Azam, the number one ranked ODI batter in the world, will shape up nicely.

Weakness

Pakistan's bowling group is their weakness now! Yes, you heard it right. Ever since India piled up 356/2 in 50 overs in the Super Fours of Asia Cup 2023 against Pakistan, their bowling unit has underperformed.

The injury of Naseem Shah has added to their woes and snapped the famed pace trio which also include Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf. Rauf was smashed for 36 runs in four overs against New Zealand in the warm-up game. The same bowling unit failed to defend 252 in 42 overs against Sri Lanka to crash out of the Asia Cup 2023.

The Pakistan spinners (Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nazwaz and Usama Mir) have repeatedly failed to pick wickets in the middle overs. Pakistan's bowling would be put to test in the World Cup 2023.

Opportunity

The opportunity in front of Pakistan is massive. Winning a World Cup in India will be extra special for the side. There is no massive difference between conditions in India and Pakistan, and therefore Pakistan are already one of the top contenders to at least qualify for the semi-finals. Playing in front of a packed Indian crowd would be the biggest challenge for Pakistan and the same can give the additional adrenaline boost needed to punch above their weight on the Indian soil.

Threat

Pakistan's opening combination is not sorted, Fakhar Zaman's poor form is a major concern. Abdullah Shafique opened alongside Imam-ul-Haq in the warm-up match but could score only 14 runs. Imam himself has scored in single digits thrice in his last five outings in the 50-over format.

The failure of openers can put pressure on Pakistan middle-order. Also, it remains to be seen how the lower-middle order bats. Pakistan lack a genuine finisher and the issue can come to haunt them in the World Cup 2023.

ICC ODI World Cup 2023: Team Pakistan Strongest 11 For Mega Event

Imam-ul-Haq Fakhar Zaman Babar Azam (c) Mohammad Rizwan (wk) Saud Shakeel Iftikhar Ahmed Shadab Khan Usama Mir/Mohammad Nawaz Mohammad Wasim Haris Rauf Shaheen Afridi

Pakistan squad for World Cup 2023: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim.