#PAKvNZ: A Look At Pakistan’s Possible Playing XI

First #PakvNZ ODI will be played today in Rawalpindi and so, here is a look at the playing XI that the men in green are likely to field during the opening encounter.

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Top Six During The First #PakvNZ ODI

Pakistan are all set to open the innings with Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq. Skipper Babar Azam, wicket-keeper batsman i.e. Mohd. Rizwan and Saud Shakeel then are likely to bat next in the middle-order.

Read: New Chairman #RamizRaja Appoints Mathew Hayden & Vernon Philander

All-rounders

Batting all-rounder, Iftikhar Ahmed is all set to feature at the number six position while the team’s vice-captain and bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan is expected to bat at the number seven position.

Read: Hasan Ali Not Taking #PAKvNZ Contest Lightly, Says He’ll Miss Waqar

Bowlers

Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf are almost certain to be Pakistan’s top pacers during the game while Usman Qadir is expected to lead the spin-bowling department alongside Shadab Khan during the first of the three match series.

Read: Mohd. Amir Refuses Central Contract, Blames PCB For Being “Ignorant”

So, What Should The Final Line-up Look Like

Pakistan’s final line-up is expected to be as below.

Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohd. Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi and Usman Qadir.

Read: Azhar Mahmood Expresses Surprise Over The Exclusion Of Shoaib Malik

What’s Still More Significant?

As per media reports, the new chairman, Ramiz Raja has instructed the entire unit to adopt to the modern brand of play and hence, the game in general and the series in particular, is also likely to define whether or not the green shirts are able to live up to the expectations of the chairman, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).