Cricket World Cup 2019, Pakistan preview, likely starting XI: If it is in England, they are always the dark horses

Where to start? The 1979 and 1983 World Cups, where Pakistan made it to the semi-final? Or the 1975 one, where they lost out on a slot by the thinnest of margins? Or 1999, where they finished runners-up? The numerous Test series, from 1954 to 1992 to the recent ones in 2016 and 2018? The 2009 World T20? The 2017 Champions Trophy?

No, there is little doubt that Pakistan have traditionally punched way, way above their weight in big tournaments on English soil. True, they have now lost 9 ODIs on a row (and the warm-up match against Afghanistan), but since when has that mattered to Pakistan? Once they start winning there is no stopping them – as the world found out to their own peril in the 1992 World Cup or the Champions Trophy two years ago.

There are, however, aspects to sort out. The fast bowling, for example. The selectors have taken a lot of flak for recalling Wahab Riaz out of nowhere, but Wahab was actually their best bowler against Afghanistan. Hasan Ali has been excellent but only in bursts. And despite picking up wickets, Shaheen Afridi has been thrashed around, albeit on the flattest of tracks.

Anything is possible if the fast bowling backs their batting and if Shadab Khan is at his best.

Key players

Wahab Riaz: Is the Wahab of the 2011 semi-final and the 2015 quarter-final back? The final burst against Afghanistan – fast, accurate, and probing – were certainly reminiscent of those spells. Pakistan needed a strike bowler on these pitches, and despite not playing an ODI for almost two years, there is little doubt that he is one.

Shadab Khan: At just twenty, Shadab has emerged as Pakistan’s most important player for the tournament, but then, how many youngsters average 29.40 with bat and 27.74 with ball while going for under 5 an over? Shadab can tie batsmen down, take wickets in clusters, and provide solidity to the middle-order: who better than him to carry the mantle?

Asif Ali: This is different. Asif has joined his team after attending the funeral of his two-year-old daughter. It is now time for the fireworks – the kind only prolific six-hitters can produce. Sixteen matches, 342 runs at a strike rate of 131 till date: is this going to be his World Cup, after all?

Squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (c & wk), Shoaib Malik (vc), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Asif Ali, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Sohail.

Starting XI: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Asif Ali, Shoaib Malik (vc), Sarfraz Ahmed (c & wk), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Shaheen Afridi.

Prediction

A semi-final berth, but then, given that it is Pakistan, anything between champion and last spot is possible.