The World Cup extravaganza has kicked off, and Pakistan has played three of its matches. Their journey started with a victory against the Netherlands, but it raised some doubts as they struggled against a supposedly weaker team. In the second game, Pakistan managed to chase down a substantial target, but their bowling performance left much to be desired. The team secured wins in both matches, but their overall performance was less than satisfactory.
However, the third match against arch-rivals India exposed Pakistan’s weaknesses, with the batting lineup collapsing and the bowling performance being merely average.
As they prepare for their upcoming game against Australia, there are predictions of changes in the lineup. One of the key changes is the replacement of Shadab Khan, who is also the vice-captain of the team, with the promising Usama Mir.
Shadab Khan’s performance as an all-rounder has been underwhelming. He has struggled with the bat and has been expensive while bowling. Examining his recent stats:
| Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy | 4s | 6s | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 | 0 | 55 | 1 | 6.11 | 5 | 2 | Sri Lanka | Colombo (RPS) | 14 Sep 2023 |
| 8.0 | 0 | 45 | 1 | 5.62 | 6 | 2 | Netherlands | Hyderabad | 6 Oct 2023 |
| 8.0 | 0 | 55 | 1 | 6.87 | 5 | 1 | Sri Lanka | Hyderabad | 10 Oct 2023 |
| 4.0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 7.75 | 5 | 2 | India | Ahmedabad | 14 Oct 2023 |
On the other hand, Usama Mir is a young talent who deserves an opportunity to shine in a World Cup match, especially considering Shadab’s recent form. Reviewing Usama Mir’s recent stats:
| Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy | 4s | 6s | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10.0 | 0 | 43 | 4 | 4.30 | 5 | 2 | New Zealand | Karachi | 5 May 2023 |
| 8.0 | 0 | 53 | 2 | 6.62 | 4 | 1 | New Zealand | Karachi | 7 May 2023 |
| 3.0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 6.00 | 4 | 2 | Afghanistan | Hambantota | 22 Aug 2023 |
| 10.0 | 0 | 61 | 1 | 6.10 | 5 | 1 | Afghanistan | Hambantota | 24 Aug 2023 |
The debate over the selection of the playing XI against Australia continues, with many anticipating changes in the spinner’s role.
