With the three-match T20I series now level at 1-1, Pakistan’s cricket team is all set to face Ireland in the decisive third T20 International in Dublin on Tuesday. Both sides will now look at a win in this series of deciders following a thrilling seven-wicket win for each in the last two encounters.
Setting Up for the Last Battle
Pakistan will go unchanged into the third and final game. The power-packed national team emerged after a power-packed performance in the second match. The leadership of the team will be in the hands of Babar Azam, who will also open the inning to bolster the lineup. Joining him in the top order will be the energetic left-hander Saim Ayub, with some brio and aggression added at the top. This is expected to give Pakistan a good start, which is of utmost importance for the team.
Analyzing Pakistan’s cricket team Batting Order
The middle order for Pakistan has continued to be a place where reliability meets explosive power. Mohammad Rizwan would walk in at number three and take the game deep after his consistent performances with the bat. Following him are two destructive hitters, Fakhar Zaman and Azam Khan, who in all likelihood will handle wicketkeeping duties as well. Iftikhar Ahmed and Imad Wasim are more middle order batsmen, with the former of those two being an all-rounder as well. Indeed, their middle order comprises batters who are able to increase the pace in the death overs.
Assesing the Bowling Plan Again, Pakistan is expected to stick with their lethal pace battery that has served them so well of late. Spearheaded by the brilliant Shaheen Afridi, the pace quartet will include Abbas Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Amir. This side also takes into account the expected rainy weather on the day of the game, as such conditions support fast bowlers. A change of strategy will still be on the cards, with Abrar Ahmed likely to replace Mohammad Amir, whose last game was quite expensive in which he leaked 44 runs.
Making it weather-specific
Therefore weather conditions will have a key impact on the dynamics of the match. If indeed rain is expected, then both teams might have to adopt an alternative strategy. Thus, the cricket team of Pakistan management has prepared for all eventualities and has made the squad quite versatile and dynamic in changing conditions.
Pakistan’s cricket team likely XI:
Saim Ayub, Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir
