Pakistan is seeking to win the cherished trophy back after a 14-year absence, having lost to England in the 2022 T20 World Cup final. However, all-rounder Imad Wasim’s side strain will prevent him from playing before the Men in Green’s opening game against the hosts, the United States of America. This is a major blow to the team.
The captain of Pakistan, Babar Azam, told the media that the all-round player will miss the opening encounter but hopes to be well enough to play the following games. The most anticipated match of the tournament will pit Pakistan against India following the USA match. Speaking of Imad, he made a successful comeback to the international scene and was subsequently called up to the national team following some impressive displays in the Pakistan Super League.
Due to a side strain, Imad Wasim will not be able to participate in our first game. Imad Wasim won’t play in the opening game, but we hope he’ll be available for the remaining games,” Babar stated, as cited by Geo Super.
Shoaib Malik is one of Saim Ayub’s high-risk players.
Prior to the main match, Pakistan had just suffered a series of defeats against England. For a while now, the squad has struggled with the starting-pair combination. The suggested opener is Saim Ayub, replacing Babar, who was opening with Mohammad Rizwan at number three. The openers are having difficulty getting going, so the move is not producing results. In addressing the matter, former Pakistani batsman Shoaib Malik has suggested a combined strategy.
Also read: Pakistan openers strongly debate Babar Azam’s captaincy
“This type of hitter has a lower likelihood of consistency, and Saim Ayub plays with a high degree of danger. According to Malik, Pakistan should start with Saim in high-scoring matches, but Babar-Rizwan should do so if the games are being played at a par score of 160 or 170.
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