Pakistan Team Preview: Can they beat the defending champions India?

This years’ Asia Cup, hosted by Malaysia, will be held between the 3^rd and 10^th of June and will see six countries, Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand participate in it. Though it will be the 7th edition of the event, it will only be the third to be played in the Twenty-20 format.



With 3^rd June just around the corner, here’s all you need to know about Team Pakistan, their experiences of the previous editions of the tournament and what they will be hoping to achieve this time around.



 



Key Players:



For Pakistan, in-form batters, skipper and 11th ranked Bismah Maroof, Javeria Khan, and Nain Abidi - who has earned a recall to the team after an impressive domestic season- will all play a crucial role in dominating over their opponents. These players have the ability to take the game away from the opposition, as well as anchor the innings, if need be, which is essential.



Pakistan will also be relying on former captain Sana Mir’s wealth of experience, as well as her knack to take wickets consistently and at crucial moments, to restrict their opponents’ batting. A relatively new seam attack of Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu, and Natalia Pervez will also be vital in keeping their opponents’ on their toes as they haven’t faced much of these bowlers before.



 



Strengths:



Pakistan has the strength of batting to chase down mammoth totals as well as set them. A well-rounded bowling attack gives Pakistan an impressive all-round team that certainly has the ability to defeat any opposition. They are under a new captain, Maroof, and management, as their coach has changed as well. This has led Pakistan to have some success in their series against the White Ferns and dominate Sri Lanka, which Pakistan will derive confidence from.



 



Weaknesses:



Pakistan is guilty of losing wickets in quick succession with catastrophic collapses in the batting order. They will need to improve on this and work on weaving partnerships if they want to succeed.



 



Previous Results:



After failing to deliver in the first few editions they participated in by not even reaching the final, Pakistan turned the tide as soon as the T20 format was introduced, in 2012. They will look to claim the title this team around and establish themselves as the best in cricket in Asia. This desire will be fuelled by the fact that their two previous losses in the final have been by meagre margins of 18 and 17 runs against arch-rivals, India. Can the women in green defeat the team that has not lost a single match in the Asia Cup until now?



 



Importance:



Following a horror World Cup campaign, Pakistan will be looking to win the Asia Cup and gain some momentum, as well as confidence, leading up to the T20 World Cup in November.



Asia Cup full schedule here



Pakistan squad for Asia Cup announced



 



Squad:



Bismah Maroof (c), Nain Abidi, Muneeba Ali, Anam Amin, Diana Baig, Kainat Imtiaz, Sana Mir, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Javeria Khan, Nahida Khan, Natalia Pervaiz, Nashra Sandhu, Omaima Sohail, Nida Rashid, Javeria Wadood