Home Schedule Preview Review Analysis Fantasy About Us

World Cup 2022 | Team Pakistan | Complete Squad Analysis | SWOT


Written By: Ritwika Dhar, Jeet Vachharajani
Date: 03-03-2022

Picture Courtesy: Cricket Queens

BRIEF HISTORY

  • Pakistan’s first World Cup was way back in 1997
  • Two times Asian games winners (2010 & 2014)
  • Pakistan has played 23 games in the World Cup out of which they have lost 21
  • They finished at the last spot in the World Cup 2017 

Previous World Cup Appearances: 1997, 2009, 2013, 2017
Best Finish: 5th place - 2009 

CURRENT FORM

  • Lost all their bilateral series in 2021
  • Finished at the 5th spot in the ICC ODI Championship 2017-2020
  • Played in the qualifiers, lost to Bangladesh, and won by a small margin against Thailand
  • Due to Covid-19, the CWCQ got canceled which allowed Pakistan to qualify because of a better ranking
  • The only team amongst all the WC qualified teams who didn’t play any international game prior to the World Cup this year.

SQUAD



STRENGTHS

The Dar-Riaz partnership: Pakistan has been subject to several collapses which have been stabilized by Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz. The duo registered six 50+ scores amongst them in ODIs since 2021 as compared to the three 50+ scores amongst all the remaining players. Riaz averages 47.8 and Dar averages 45.4 since that time frame with the next highest being Omaima Sohail’s 27.5. The dup stitched together 348 runs together with two century stands and one half-century stand at an average of 69.6.

Comeback of captain Bismah Maroof: The one saving grace for Pakistan is that their regular skipper Bismah Maroof is back. She will not only be vital with her leadership, but a key figure in Pakistan’s lineup to take control of the proceedings. Bismah has led Pakistan in 18 ODIs, but she’s the only have to have a positive win% (more wins than losses) amongst other skippers who have led for at least more than 1 ODI.

Good young pace-attack: Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Aliya Riaz (if she bowls), and Aiman Anwer! Do not underestimate this pace quartet. Baig is not only an incredible athlete, but she’s also a very disciplined new-ball bowler. Aiman Anwer may not be a definite starter and Riaz does not bowl so regularly these days. But, let’s talk about the young Fatima Sana! She’s been unstoppable and disturbs the furniture time and again. While she can prove to be expensive, she provides regular breakthroughs and that is just what a team needs from a quick pacer.

WEAKNESSES

Fragile top-order: Pakistan has had 5 batters in the top-order who have been used since the beginning of 2021. The problem is that no one has managed to deliver. The best batter has been Muneeba Ali with an average of 25.1 and she’s the only one to score a 50 amongst 39 innings across these 5 batters. With the new ball bound to make some noise, Pakistan’s top-order will have their task cut out.

No ODI experience in New Zealand: Pakistan first played in New Zealand way back in 1997. It took 19 years for them to play again in 2016 and that’s pretty much it. So, since their first ODI in New Zealand till now, they have just played 7 ODIs in these 25 years. There’s absolutely nothing for them to bank upon and it will be a hard grind in order to adapt.



OPPORTUNITIES

Opting for Muneeba as the keeper: Pakistan can actually do well by letting Muneeba take the gloves instead of Sidra Nawaz. While Nawaz is absolutely brilliant behind the stumps, she doesn’t add much value as a batter as she averages a shocking 7.9 with the bat after 39 innings. This is slightly similar to the Bhatia-Ghosh conundrum for India. Nawaz can be the backup keeper, whereas Muneeba can take the gloves in the XI. In place of Nawaz, Pakistan can actually look to beef up their batting lineup by picking an extra batter ahead of Nawaz.

THREATS

Talented, but winning mentality is missing: The top and the middle-order have been a complete failure in 2021. There has been too much dependency upon the all-rounders Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz who have bailed them out several times. The best part for Pakistan is that their regular skipper and the most successful batter Bismah Maroof is back who missed the ODI throughout the last year.

KEY PLAYERS

Javeria Khan: Leading batter for Pakistan in their middle-order. She has the most number of hundreds (2) in WODIs for Pakistan. 

Nida Dar: Alongside Riaz, Nida was the only consistent batter and ended 2021 as the 2nd highest run-scorer for Pakistan. Her form and experience will be the key for them. 

Diana Baig: The leading fast bowler for Pakistan, at the moment. Her opening spells will be crucial in the breezy conditions of New Zealand.

Aliya Riaz: Pakistan’s best pace all-rounder. In 2021, she was the highest run-scorer (382 runs) for Pakistan in the ODIs. Her role as a pacer has been as good as none lately, but one never knows if she’ll be rolling her arm over.

Bismah Maroof: The first woman to score 1,000 and 2,000 runs in ODIs for Pakistan. The skipper holds the key to Pakistan’s fortunes.

Fatima Sana: She was the joint highest wicket-taker in the ODIs and was adjudged as the Emerging Player of the Year in 2021. 

Omaima Sohail: Another hard-hitting all-rounder for Pakistan who will be crucial.

Likely starting XI: Nahida Khan, Muneeba Ali, Javeria Khan, Bismah Maroof (C), Omaima Sohail, Aliya Riaz, Nida Dar, Fatima Sana, Sidra Nawaz (Wk), Nashra Sundhu, Diana Baig

*For the complete schedule of the World Cup, check out the Schedule section of our page, Cricket Queens.  World cup fixtures


World Cup 2022 | Team Pakistan | Complete Squad Analysis | SWOT


Written By: Ritwika Dhar, Jeet Vachharajani
Date: 03-03-2022

Picture Courtesy: Cricket Queens

BRIEF HISTORY

  • Pakistan’s first World Cup was way back in 1997
  • Two times Asian games winners (2010 & 2014)
  • Pakistan has played 23 games in the World Cup out of which they have lost 21
  • They finished at the last spot in the World Cup 2017 

Previous World Cup Appearances: 1997, 2009, 2013, 2017
Best Finish: 5th place - 2009 

CURRENT FORM

  • Lost all their bilateral series in 2021
  • Finished at the 5th spot in the ICC ODI Championship 2017-2020
  • Played in the qualifiers, lost to Bangladesh, and won by a small margin against Thailand
  • Due to Covid-19, the CWCQ got canceled which allowed Pakistan to qualify because of a better ranking
  • The only team amongst all the WC qualified teams who didn’t play any international game prior to the World Cup this year.

SQUAD



STRENGTHS

The Dar-Riaz partnership: Pakistan has been subject to several collapses which have been stabilized by Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz. The duo registered six 50+ scores amongst them in ODIs since 2021 as compared to the three 50+ scores amongst all the remaining players. Riaz averages 47.8 and Dar averages 45.4 since that time frame with the next highest being Omaima Sohail’s 27.5. The dup stitched together 348 runs together with two century stands and one half-century stand at an average of 69.6.

Comeback of captain Bismah Maroof: The one saving grace for Pakistan is that their regular skipper Bismah Maroof is back. She will not only be vital with her leadership, but a key figure in Pakistan’s lineup to take control of the proceedings. Bismah has led Pakistan in 18 ODIs, but she’s the only have to have a positive win% (more wins than losses) amongst other skippers who have led for at least more than 1 ODI.

Good young pace-attack: Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Aliya Riaz (if she bowls), and Aiman Anwer! Do not underestimate this pace quartet. Baig is not only an incredible athlete, but she’s also a very disciplined new-ball bowler. Aiman Anwer may not be a definite starter and Riaz does not bowl so regularly these days. But, let’s talk about the young Fatima Sana! She’s been unstoppable and disturbs the furniture time and again. While she can prove to be expensive, she provides regular breakthroughs and that is just what a team needs from a quick pacer.

WEAKNESSES

Fragile top-order: Pakistan has had 5 batters in the top-order who have been used since the beginning of 2021. The problem is that no one has managed to deliver. The best batter has been Muneeba Ali with an average of 25.1 and she’s the only one to score a 50 amongst 39 innings across these 5 batters. With the new ball bound to make some noise, Pakistan’s top-order will have their task cut out.

No ODI experience in New Zealand: Pakistan first played in New Zealand way back in 1997. It took 19 years for them to play again in 2016 and that’s pretty much it. So, since their first ODI in New Zealand till now, they have just played 7 ODIs in these 25 years. There’s absolutely nothing for them to bank upon and it will be a hard grind in order to adapt.



OPPORTUNITIES

Opting for Muneeba as the keeper: Pakistan can actually do well by letting Muneeba take the gloves instead of Sidra Nawaz. While Nawaz is absolutely brilliant behind the stumps, she doesn’t add much value as a batter as she averages a shocking 7.9 with the bat after 39 innings. This is slightly similar to the Bhatia-Ghosh conundrum for India. Nawaz can be the backup keeper, whereas Muneeba can take the gloves in the XI. In place of Nawaz, Pakistan can actually look to beef up their batting lineup by picking an extra batter ahead of Nawaz.

THREATS

Talented, but winning mentality is missing: The top and the middle-order have been a complete failure in 2021. There has been too much dependency upon the all-rounders Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz who have bailed them out several times. The best part for Pakistan is that their regular skipper and the most successful batter Bismah Maroof is back who missed the ODI throughout the last year.

KEY PLAYERS

Javeria Khan: Leading batter for Pakistan in their middle-order. She has the most number of hundreds (2) in WODIs for Pakistan. 

Nida Dar: Alongside Riaz, Nida was the only consistent batter and ended 2021 as the 2nd highest run-scorer for Pakistan. Her form and experience will be the key for them. 

Diana Baig: The leading fast bowler for Pakistan, at the moment. Her opening spells will be crucial in the breezy conditions of New Zealand.

Aliya Riaz: Pakistan’s best pace all-rounder. In 2021, she was the highest run-scorer (382 runs) for Pakistan in the ODIs. Her role as a pacer has been as good as none lately, but one never knows if she’ll be rolling her arm over.

Bismah Maroof: The first woman to score 1,000 and 2,000 runs in ODIs for Pakistan. The skipper holds the key to Pakistan’s fortunes.

Fatima Sana: She was the joint highest wicket-taker in the ODIs and was adjudged as the Emerging Player of the Year in 2021. 

Omaima Sohail: Another hard-hitting all-rounder for Pakistan who will be crucial.

Likely starting XI: Nahida Khan, Muneeba Ali, Javeria Khan, Bismah Maroof (C), Omaima Sohail, Aliya Riaz, Nida Dar, Fatima Sana, Sidra Nawaz (Wk), Nashra Sundhu, Diana Baig

*For the complete schedule of the World Cup, check out the Schedule section of our page, Cricket Queens.  World cup fixtures