T20 World Cup 2024: Three reasons why Pakistan will struggle just like ODI World Cup 2023

T20 World Cup 2024: A lot has happened in Pakistan cricket since their shambolic performance at the ODI World Cup 2023 in India. Captains were changed, then restored, there was a regime change in the PCB, new selectors were named, a player was snubbed from central contract list before getting one, and last but not the least two star cricketers came out of retirement and were named in Pakistan squad for the T20 World Cup 2024.

There is always something happening in Pakistan cricket, and the volatile nature is also seen in the team. The Men in Green flunked their big Test in India by losing five of their nine league stage matches.

Babar Azam stepped down from captaincy, but has returned to lead the team at the T20 World Cup 2024. The star batter and his team face another stern test on a big stage, however chances of redemption look really bleak.

T20 World Cup 2024: Three reasons why Pakistan will struggle just like ODI World Cup 2023

Poor form: Pakistan are going through a poor run of form. Their T20I series against second-string New Zealand ended in a draw before Ireland registered a historic win in the first T20I of a three-match series. Pakistan then travelled to England where they lost 2-0.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are the only reliable batters in the team. Fakhar Zaman has been inconsistent, and the middle-order has underperformed time and again.

Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim were included in Pakistan squad for the T20 World Cup after they came out of their retirements, but haven't been impactful. Naseem Shah is also going for runs, and the spin department has also lacked the flair. Pakistan were exposed even in their T20I series against New Zealand in January when they avoided a whitewash by winning the fifth T20I.

Poor selection: Pakistan picked Saim Ayub as their opener, and the plan has already backfired. The 22-year-old from Karachi was benched for the final T20I against England as Babar and Rizwan returned to open for Pakistan.

Pakistan have also picked Azam Khan as their wicketkeeper-batter but his failure at international level continues. Usman Khan, who has an experience of playing only in six T20Is, was given the crucial number three slot in the fourth game against England.

Naseem Shah has also been picked due to his stature and rightly so but the youngster has been mighty expensive on his international comeback. He leaked 51 runs without a wicket in his last outing. In fact, he has conceded over 35 runs in each of his last four T20s (51, 36, 37 and 44). Likewise, Amir has picked only two wickets in his last five outings.

The overall pressure, board and team politics: There was drama even before the Pakistan squad for the T20I World Cup was announced. PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi was reportedly unhappy with the selectors.

Shaheen Afridi was made the Pakistan T20I captain after the World Cup 2023 debacle but he was sacked just after a series. Babar Azam's captaincy is once again under scrutiny. Imad Wasim was dropped from the playing eleven against England immediately after he returned with figures of 2/19 and scored 22 runs with the bat.

On the other hand, Shadab Khan was retained despite his horrid run. The all-rounder has scores of 0, 3 and 3 in his last three outings. He hasn't picked a single wicket in his last three matches, and leaked 20, 55 and 54 runs respectively.