ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Strongest Pakistan Playing XI

#3. Babar Azam

Babar Azam

The most tantalizing prospect to come out from the Pakistani batting department in the last few years is undoubtedly Babar Azam. The 24-year old batsman has been a sensation in white-ball cricket and is improving very quickly in Test cricket as well. In ODIs, Azam has notched up around 2,500 runs in just 56 innings. Of his 10 ODI centuries, three were scored in succession.

Babar currently boasts of a batting average in excess of 50 and batting at number three he will be the most critical batsman for Pakistan.

#4. Mohammad Hafeez

Mohammad Hafeez

‘The Professor’ is an expert in adapting to the game situation. Mohammad Hafeez is 38 years old, and it certainly will be his last World Cup. Hafeez will be critical in case of an early collapse.

The veteran of 207 ODIs with more than 6,000 runs under his belt will try his best to play through the innings and ensure a fitting end. His experience will help Sarfaraz. Hafeez can bowl his gentle off-breaks though his action has been under the ICC scanner.

#5. Shoaib Malik

Shoaib Malik

Pakistan has another bank of experience batting for them at the number five position. The 36-year-old all-rounder is a formidable cricketer in the white-ball format. The age has not caught up with his fielding and remains sharp as ever in the field.

With more than 7,000 ODI runs in 278 ODIs, Malik will be a mainstay in the Pakistani batting lineup. He can also swing his arm around. Malik announced his Test retirement in 2015 to focus on the 2019 World Cup.

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