Third #PAKvsNZ ODI will be played tomorrow in Karachi and with the #ICCWC2023 only a few months away, here is a look at what Pakistan must do to ensure maximum utilization of the ODIs that they play this year prior to the mega event.
Read: 1st #PAKvNZ ODI: 3 Things You Probably Didn’t Think About
Why Pakistan Must Use The #PAKvsNZ ODIs To Prepare For The #ICCWC2023
#AsiaCup2023 is in jeopardy. The cancellation of the tournament will leave Pakistan with only six ODIs prior to the ICC World Cup which is scheduled to be played in India later in the year. Three of those ODIs are to be played in Karachi and remaining three during the tour of Sri Lanka where the green shirts travel next. Therefore, the men in green must fully utilize every game to ensure that they prepare well for the world event.
Read:Â #PAKvsNZ ODI Series: A Look At The Likely Playing XI
The Middle-order Problem
Pakistan’s top three in the batting line are well set however, the think-tank still needs to figure out its best batters at numbers 4, 5 and 6. Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood haven’t been impressive so far while Haris Sohail is injury prone. The Babar Azam led unit then should experiment with the in-form Mohd. Rizwan at number four and play Iftikhar Ahmed at number five.
The other option available to them is to either let Shan or Abdullah bat at the number three while captain Babar, Rizwan and Salman follow next. We know Babar is not very accommodating when it comes to changing his batting position and hence, the skipper might not be too happy facilitating such a request from the support staff.
With only a few games left before the world cup, Pakistan needs to act fast in order to find the perfect answer to its middle order problem.
Read: #PAKvsNZ T20 Series: Here Is Why Pakistan Didn’t Perform Well
Figuring Out The Best Bowlers
Pakistan has plenty of fast bowlers to pick from however, it is about time that they decide on the three that they would want to play on a regular basis during the ICC event. Moreover, Shadab Khan hasn’t been in top form and so, on one hand the men in green must work to ensure that their vice-captain is back on track before the world cup and on the other they must also look to finalize his back up.
So far, they have tried Usama Mir but Imad Wasim too has done decently in the T20s. Hence, there seems no harm in allowing him a few games to see whether or not he is able to deliver in the ODI format as well.