Pakistan has decided to alter its playing XI to adopt a more defensive strategy against arch-rivals India. The two teams are set to face off tomorrow at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
Following their disappointing defeat against the USA in their tournament opener, Pakistan is keen on making a strong comeback.
The Pakistani squad, under the leadership of captain Babar Azam, underwent an intensive practice session at the stadium today. According to reliable sources, there will be significant changes in the lineup for the pivotal match against India.
All-rounder Imad Wasim, who has recently recovered from an injury, is set to replace wicketkeeper-batsman Azam Khan.
The Pakistani lineup is expected to see Saim Ayub or Usman Khan opening alongside Mohammad Rizwan. The inclusion of mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed is also on the cards, which could play a crucial role in countering the Indian batsmen.
The anticipated lineup for Pakistan includes players like Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Amir, and Naseem Shah, who are pivotal for their bowling attack.
On the other hand, the Indian squad, led by Rohit Sharma, is brimming with seasoned players such as Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah. Both teams are well aware of the pressure and intensity that comes with an India-Pakistan match, especially in a World Cup setting.
Likely playing XI:
Pakistan:
- Saim Ayub
- Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
- Babar Azam (c)
- Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Shadab Khan
- Imad Wasim
- Shaheen Afridi
- Mohammad Amir
- Naseem Shah
- Abrar Ahmed
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.
'Pakistan will come back'
Gary Kirsten, the head coach of the Pakistani cricket team, confirmed Imad Wasim’s availability in a press conference held at the New York Stadium. Kirsten emphasized the importance of teamwork and strategic planning over individual performances in the high-stakes clash.
“In the India-Pakistan match, there is pressure on both teams to win. T20 cricket is a very unpredictable format, and the dynamics of the match can change in an instant. Hence, I refrain from making any predictions regarding the outcome against India,” said Kirsten.
He highlighted that the team has meticulously worked on rectifying the mistakes from their previous match and is focused on delivering a strong performance in all departments—batting, bowling, and fielding.
“We will make a comeback in tomorrow’s match hopefully," head coach expressed hope.
Kirsten also mentioned that while the final playing XI has not been decided, the team’s primary objective is to leverage the talents of their players effectively against India.
