Pakistan vs West Indies 2018: Five Pakistani players to watch out for in T20I series

The last 6-7 months have been very good for cricket in Pakistan. They successfully hosted the 2017 PSL final following which the World XI (appointed by ICC) toured Pakistan in September for three T20Is. Sri Lanka then played their final T20I of the 3-match series there.

All these games were played in Lahore and the security was top notch. This year, the PSL also hosted three games in Lahore (Eliminator 1, Eliminator 2 and the final). And now, West Indies are touring the nation for 3 T20Is.

The Pakistan T20I team have been in supreme form. They have won 6 consecutive bilateral T20I series and the last time they lost a T20I series was back in January 2016. Hence, they will go into this 3-match T20I series as favourites.

The players have been fairly consistent and have delivered when it has mattered the most. Hence, let’s have a look at 5 Pakistan players who could step up in the upcoming T20I series:

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#5 Babar Azam

In December 2016, Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur had compared Babar Azam to Virat Kohli, saying: “He's (Azam) as good as Virat Kohli.” The Pakistan No. 3 had played just 25 international games when Arthur made that statement. And about 15 months later, Azam has become the pillar of the Pakistan batting line-up.

Azam’s Test career might not have taken off, but his performances in limited-overs cricket have been very good. After an exceptional 2017, Azam had an underwhelming ODI series in New Zealand, but he came back strongly in the T20I series.

In Pakistan’s 2-1 series victory over the Blackcaps, Azam was the highest run-getter in the series with 109 runs. In the recently concluded PSL, the Lahore-born batsman was the third-highest run-getter in the tournament (402 runs).

In Lahore, he has an exceptional record as well. In 4 T20Is Azam has played in his hometown, he has amassed 213 runs at an average of 71.00 and a strike-rate of 140.13. Thus, Azam will be looking to continue his good form.

#4 Shadab Khan

Shadab Khan has become a brilliant all-rounder

Shadab Khan is undoubtedly one of the stars in the making for Pakistan. Shadab is an excellent asset to have, a leg-spinner with a lot of variations and a lower-order batsman who can tonk the ball. Moreover, he’s an excellent fielder as well.

He made his debut against West Indies last year and bowled a terrific spell (4-0-7-3) to bamboozle the Windies batsmen. In 13 T20Is, the 19-year-old leggie has already won 4 Man of the Match awards (including one on debut). He has taken 19 wickets in 13 T20Is at a strike-rate of 15.11 and an economy of 6.42. In the three games he played this year in New Zealand, Shadab took 5 wickets and was the Player of the Match in the last T20I.

He also had a decent PSL where he took 9 wickets and had an economy of 6.54. He is definitely one of the players to watch out for in the upcoming T20I series against West Indies.

#3 Asif Ali

Asif Ali on the right

One of 3 newbies in the team, Asif Ali is an exciting prospect. Known for his big-hitting, Asif might not have the numbers to show for his talent, but he was one of the reasons for Islamabad United’s (IU) success in this season’s PSL.

In this year’s PSL, he scored 213 runs in 11 innings at an average of 30.42 and a strike-rate of 169.04 with a high score of 45. These are not numbers which attract a lot of attention but it’s his calm nature in pressure situations that make him a player to keep an eye on. In the final, he walked out to bat at No. 8 (which was a little surprising). At 100/6, Islamabad were under pressure but Asif struck 3 sixes and ended with a 6-ball 26 to help IU lift the title.

Former Pakistan skipper Misbah ul Haq has rated this 26-year-old batsman very highly. Thus, he will play a key role in the middle-order.

#2 Faheem Ashraf

Faheem Ashraf has done well in the opportunities that he has got

Faheem Ashraf burst onto the international scene with a blistering 30-ball 64 against Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy warm-up game. He was touted as Pakistan’s next big-hitting all-rounder and he’s done well in the limited opportunities he’s got. He’s taken 10 wickets in 7 T20Is at an economy of 7.19. In October 2017, he also became the second Pakistan bowler to take a T20I hat-trick.

However, this year’s PSL was certainly a breakthrough tournament for Ashraf. He was the leading wicket-taker, with 17 wickets in 12 games. With the bat, he didn’t get many opportunities but he scored an unbeaten 54 in the first game to spare Islamabad United’s blushes.

Pakistan will be hoping that the 24-year old all-rounder can continue his good form in the T20I series against West Indies.

#1 Shaheen Afridi

Shaheen Afridi is just 17 years old and has already drawn comparisons with Mitchell Starc

Shaheen Afridi has become one of the major talking points in Pakistan cricket. Right from the time he took 8/39 on his first-class debut, people have drawn comparisons between him and Mitchell Starc. Known for his pace and searing yorkers, Shaheen is having a wonderful 2018 season.

He had a stellar Under-19 World Cup where he took 12 wickets in 5 games at an average of 14.58 and a staggering economy of 3.58. This included a brilliant spell of 6/15, helping dismiss Ireland for just 98. He followed this success with a good outing in the PSL (playing for Lahore Qalandars). In his fourth game of the tournament, he took 5/4 and rattled Multan Sultans' batting line-up.

Picked for the first time in the national team, the 17-year-old left-arm pacer will be one of the players to watch out for in this series.