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In spite of having some of the most talented youngsters in their ranks, Pakistan have never been able to exploit their full potential as a cricket team. Flop shows in big games have only added to the pandemonium in the dressing room and the team management has often been left at its wits end.
Former captains Imran Khan and Wasim Akram are expected to calm frayed nerves in the Pakistan camp. Imran and Wasim will not be strangers in the dressing room. At the peak of their careers, Imran, Wasim, Waqar Younis (now head coach) and Intikhab Alam (manager) were part of a high-profile unit.Pakistan begin their ICC T20 World Cup campaign against Bangladesh on March 16. It will be a grudge game for Shahid Afridi’s team, especially after the former T20 World Cup champions lost to Bangladesh in a needle Asia Cup match in Mirpur.
The derby game in the T20 World Cup will of course be between arch-rivals India and Pakistan. Cricket history has recorded this as the biggest rivalry in the gentleman’s game. A victory in this match can sometimes be bigger than lifting a World Cup.
Come March 19, Pakistan will yearn for their first win against India in an ICC World Cup event. Pakistan were thrashed by India in the Asia Cup recently. Last year, India beat them in the 50-over World Cup in Australia.
Imran remains Pakistan’s most celebrated cricketer. His influence on the team as a leader has not been matched by several top-notch players who have led Pakistan at various times. It is no surprise that Intikhab, Waqar and Afridi have requested King Khan for a pep talk.
India
Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Pawan Negi, Mohammed Shami, Ashish Nehra, Jasprit Bumrah, Harbhajan Singh, Hardik Pandya
Pakistan
Anwar Ali, Wahab Riaz, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Nawaz, Sarfraz Ahmed, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Sami, Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Ahmed Shehzad
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