World Cup 2019: Potent seam attack, flashy stroke-makers make Pakistan dangerous team

While hosts England, India and Australia are being hailed as the pre-tournament favourties, Asian powerhouse Pakistan can never be ruled out as a major threat and would be a team to watch out for in the showpiece event.

Cricket fans are eagerly awaiting the commencement of the 2019 ICC World Cup which will be co-hosted by England and Wales. Ten of the strongest one day international teams will lock horns against each other in 48 matches over 46 days with the ultimate aim to lift the most prized silverware in international cricket and bring laurels to their nation. While hosts England, India and Australia are being hailed as the pre-tournament favourties, Asian powerhouse Pakistan can never be ruled out as a major threat and would be a team to watch out for in the showpiece event. Pakistan's record at the World Cup Best Performance:

1992 World Cup - Champions

1999 World Cup - Finalist

Overall World Cup record  Total Played - 75 Won - 41 Win Percentage - 57.97%

Pakistan's impressive record at ICC tournaments in England  Pakistan would boost themselves owing to the fact that they reached won the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy in England by beating arch rivals India in the title clash. The 'Green Brigade'  had also reached the finals of the 1999 ICC World Cup held in the United Kingdom.

Recent ODI form  The Pakis did not have a very good outing in their recent bilateral assignment in England, losing the ODI series 0-4 to the hosts but shall take heart from the performances put in by both their batsman and bowlers as the series was a well contested affair. Pakistan Squad: Sarfaraz Ahmed (capt & wk), Asif Ali, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz. Fakhar Zaman and Iman Ul Haq to provide opening salvo  Pakistan have one of the most lethal opening pairs going into the World Cup. Pakistan shall be opening in the World Cup with their dependable opening pair of Fakhar Zaman and Iman Ul Haq who have been in rich vein of form in white ball cricket. Zaman and Haq play the perfect foil to each other as Zaman goes hammer and tongs against the new ball, Haq is equipped with fending of the new ball and getting into his groove once he has his eye in. Both the southpaws have the ability to play the big innings and have a couple of ODI hundreds against their name. Babar Azam spearheads middle order Pakistan's middle order is a good blend of youth and experience. Babar Azam with his prolific run scoring appetite in one day cricket shall be their lynch-pin in the middle order. Azam is adept at playing both the roles of being a run accumulator and stepping up the scoring with his wide array of strokeplay. Babar has company in the form of seasoned Shoiab Malik and Sarfaraz Ahmed who are dangerous stroke-makers down the order. Both Malik and Ahmed can accelerate towards the end of the innings with their lusty hitting. Pakistan have firepower down the order with some power hitters in Shoiab Malik and Asif who have the ability to play some fiery cameos and turn games in the favour of their team. All-rounders like Shoiab Malik and Imad Wasim lend depth and balance to the Pakistani squad.

Pakistan are equipped with a potent seam attack  The cutting edge weapon in the Pakistani squad is their potent seam attack which comprises of some deadly fast bowlers in Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi and Wahab Riaz. Given the fact that the English conditions are always conductive to seam bowling, the Pakistani pace attack can be handful against the best of batting lineups. Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz were in rich wicket taking form when Pakistan won the Champions Trophy in 2007. Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim will share spin duties  Pakistan has variety in their attack with two spinners drafted in their squad. Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim will have a major role to play in the middle overs, scalping a few wickets with the turning ball and backing up their seam attack. The entertaining yet enigmatic boys of international cricket are often self destructive in major ICC tournaments and  hence it will be imperative that they play well as a unit and gel under the leadership of Sarfaraz Ahmed. Verdict: If Pakistan play to their potential all through the tournament, they could end up in the semifinals of the tournament.