Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan won the toss against Pakistan and chose to bat first in a do or die match. Babar Azam expressed his preference for batting first, citing the potential early swing due to moisture on the pitch. “We would also like to bat first. There might be some swing in it early on because there is some moisture in it.”
He emphasized the team’s well-rounded performance in the last match, commending their energy.
“Last match we were good in all three departments. There was some good energy,” he added.
Babar also revealed his personal aspiration for a big innings, aiming to convert it into a century. In terms of team changes, three alterations were made: Imam, Shadab, and Nawaz are out, while Fakhar, Salman, and Usama are in.
“I am also waiting for a big innings, I will try to convert into a hundred. Three changes, Imam, Shadab and Nawaz out. Fakhar, Salman and Usama in,” he concluded.
Why is Imam Ul Haq not playing?
Imam-ul-Haq’s omission from the team can be attributed to his recent lackluster form in the tournament. With only 162 runs in six matches, his performance has fallen short of expectations, making his inclusion in the playing XI less justifiable. In contrast, Abdullah Shafique seized the opportunity and displayed consistency, accumulating 264 runs in five matches, including a memorable century on his ODI World Cup debut. The decision to drop Imam in favor of Fakhar Zaman signifies a tactical shift aimed at bolstering the team’s batting strength and injecting fresh energy into the lineup as Pakistan seeks to revive their World Cup campaign.
Pakistan Playing XI
Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Rizwan(w), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Shaheen Afridi, Usama Mir, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Haris Rauf
Pakistan’s World Cup journey has been marred by controversy and disappointment, particularly after their clash with arch-rivals India. The aftermath saw selectors being axed and private test messages with the captain being leaked by PCB officials. In the midst of this turmoil, Pakistan faces a do-or-die situation in their quest for a semi-final berth. Their hopes are hanging by a thread as they confront Bangladesh in the 31st match of the 2023 World Cup. It’s a critical moment for Pakistan, as a victory is imperative to resuscitate their faint semi-final aspirations. The cricketing world watches with bated breath to see if Pakistan can overcome the internal chaos and regain their stride on the field.
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