ICC World Cup 2019: 5 reasons why Pakistan can win the tournament

Pakistan has always been the dark horse of cricket. On their day, they can beat anyone in world cricket. In the past, they have caused major upsets by beating teams who looked better than them on paper. The best example of it is the 2017 Champions Trophy final where they went on to beat the title-favorites, India. However, it is the lack of consistency which lets them down time and again.

The 2019 edition of the World Cup is scheduled to be held in England and Wales. England has always been a happy hunting ground for Pakistan and they have enjoyed great success in multilateral tournaments held there.

The current Pakistani team has many match-winners in their lineup and is fully capable of lifting the trophy on 14 July. Through this article, we will explain why Pakistan are strong favorites for the 2019 World Cup.

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#1 Exciting young talent

Fakhar Zaman can hit the big shots in the powerplay overs

Pakistan possesses some of the most talented youngsters in world cricket. With the bat, they have the solid Imam ul Haq at the top. Imam has shown great consistency with the bat of late. He is joined by the exciting Fakhar Zaman who smashed a brilliant double hundred last year against Zimbabwe in ODIs. Zaman is capable of giving the team fast starts at the top.

Then there is the ever reliable Babar Azam to guide the team home at the number 3 position. With the ball, the rise of Shaheen Shah Afridi as a genuine wicket-taking threat has added more teeth to the Pakistani pace attack. Shaheen Afridi was very impressive with the ball against South Africa in the Tests and has carried on his good form in the limited-overs leg of the tour.

Add to that the wrist spin of Shadab Khan and you have a complete bowling attack. Shadab is also very handy with the bat down the order.

#2 Experienced middle order

Shoaib Malik has a wealth of experience in ODIs

Pakistan has a very experienced middle order in the form of Mohammed Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, and Sarfraz Ahmed. The trio has an experience of over 580 one day internationals between them. Malik has been in great form of late and is a key player in the Pakistani batting line up. Hafeez has been contributing a lot more consistently these days.

The duo can up the ante when needed and can play the waiting game to perfection as well. Not only that, both of them can bowl some pretty handy off-spin. Malik is an asset in the field as well. Captain Sarfraz is a busy player and keeps the scorecard moving. Sarfraz is excellent against spin and plays the sweep shot really well.

#3 Spin threat

Shadab Khan can get the breakthroughs in middle overs

Successful one-day teams like England and India rely on their spinners to get the wickets in the middle overs. While England has Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali performing that role, India has two world-class spinners in Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. Pakistan too possesses handy spin options in the form of Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim.

Wasim plays T20 leagues around the world and has a handful of experience of bowling in the crunch situations. He does the containing job to perfection and has a staggering economy rate of fewer than 5 runs per over in ODIs.

Shadab Khan, on the other hand, is a wicket-taking option and can fetch you the much-needed breakthroughs in the middle overs. He has a very well disguised googly up his sleeve and can outfox the batsmen with his variations. Pakistan also has some handy part-time spinners in Hafeez and Malik.

#4 Marked improvement in fielding standards

Faheem Ashraf is a livewire on the field

Modern cricket is played at a great tempo and cricketers need to be fit if they are to compete against the best. Fielding is a very important part of the game these days. Gone are the days when Pakistan used to have some lazy fielders roaming around the field and giving away easy runs.

Under new coach Mickey Arthur, fitness has been given the highest priority. Players who were not able to pass the fitness tests have been left out and those who couldn't field well were marginalized and pushed out of the side as white-ball cricket requires a high level of fitness and fielding standards.

Arthur brought in Steve Rixon as fielding coach and the move paid off handsomely as Pakistani fielding started to show marked improvement. Pakistan has some gun fielders in Babar Azam, Shadab Khan and Hasan Ali who are always prowling like a pack of wolves in the 30-yard circle.

#5 Favorable past in England

Pakistan won the 2017 Champions Trophy held in England

Pakistani teams have always performed brilliantly in England. Be it the 1999 World Cup or the 2017 Champions trophy, Pakistan have made their mark in multilateral tournaments held in England in the past. Pakistani pacemen can make the use of the helpful conditions on offer in England and can prove to be a menace for the opposition batsmen.

During the 1999 World Cup, it was the pace attack led by Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar who helped Pakistan reach the final. In CT 2017, it was Hasan Ali who led the wicket-taking charts for Pakistan. Pakistan has a capable pace attack this time as well to go all the way in the 2019 edition of the World Cup.

Pakistan matches have always been well attended in England thanks to a large number of Pakistani diaspora present in England. Such overwhelming support can help the players push their limits in crunch situations.