Thoroughly prepared opponents would target Pak during World T20 : Sohail

Islamabad, May 1 (ANI): Former Pakistan opener Aamir Sohail has warned that opponents would target the defending champions during the ICC T20 World Champions as they would have thoroughly scrutinised Pakistan's strengths and weaknesses.

"The Pakistan team will have come up in plenty of team meetings and there will have been plenty of conversations about the reigning champions," Sohail said.

"Last time around in England, Pakistan surprised a number of their opponents, with the likes of Mohammad Aamer being a relative unknown, but this time around Pakistan's opponents will have done their homework and will target Afridi's team," he added.

Sohail said that though Pakistan would be missing plenty of players who were part of the victorious team last year, all-rounder Shoaib Malik, who has been banned for a year by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), would be missed most.

"Malik is a T20 specialist and on Caribbean wickets he would have been ideal. Yes, he'll be missed this time around," PakPassion.net quoted Sohail, as saying.

The explosive former opening batsman said Pakistan should look to play according to a gameplan, which should be to play cautiously for the first few overs and preserve wickets rather than trying to blast their way through right from the word go.

"Pakistan need to try and target 150 as a par score if they bat first. If they target a score of 150, then there is every chance that they could exceed that total especially with wickets in hand and lower order big hitters like Afridi and Razzaq at the crease," Sohail said.

Pakistan would begin their campaign at the World Championship against an unpredictable Bangladesh side at St Lucia on Sunday (May 2). (ANI)