Pakistan’s Likely Playing Xi For The Second ODI Against Afghanistan
Pakistan team is scheduled to play a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in Srilanka. The matches are scheduled to be played on 22, 24, and 26 AUGUST, 2023.
Afghanistan was thrashed badly by Pakistan in the first ODI match when Pakistan completed a comprehensive victory over Afghanistan securing a victory by 142 runs.
Pakistan’s ODI team is almost settled and there is just a question on some spots in the ODI team. In the first ODI match, Pakistan fielded the playing XI, which included Fakhar Zaman, Imam Ul Haq, Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah, and Naseem Shah.
There were some important performances from all the players in the first ODI match and no one actually deserves to be excluded from the second ODI match against Afghanistan.
The opening partnership of Pakistan looks settled with Imam Ul Haq, and Fakhar Zaman at the top. The world’s top-ranked ODI batsman, Babar Azam comes in at the one-down slot.
The strong top-order is followed by the middle order of Pakistan that includes, Muhammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Shadab Khan.
Pakistan’s bowling attack is one of the world’s best at the moment which features some top-quality players like Usama Mir, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Pakistan can try Saud Shakeel on these spinning tracks for the second ODI because all batters struggled against Afghan’s spin attack and Saud Shakeel is an exceptional player of spin which will be helpful in the Asia Cup 2023 that will be played in Sri Lanka.
The second question here in the playing XI for the second ODI would be the inclusion of Muhammad Nawaz as he has done nothing wrong to be dropped for the team but Babar Azam picked Usama Mir for the first ODI and he couldn’t bowl that much as well because Afghanistan was wrapped up in less than 20 overs.
PAKISTAN’S PLAYING XI FOR THE SECOND ODI AGAINST AFGHANISTAN:
Also as we know, Babar Azam always wants to back his players and doesn’t want to change the winning team’s combination. So, changes aren’t expected in the second ODI but he has expressed that he wants to give a chance to every player in the ODI squad and that’s why we can see the likes of Muhammad Nawaz, and Saud Shakeel in the XI in the ODI matches.
The team that is likely to take the field in the second ODI match against Afghanistan is as follows:
| BABAR AZAM © | |
| FAKHAR ZAMAN | IMAM UL HAQ |
| MUHAMMAD RIZWAN | SALMAN ALI / SAUD SHAKEEL |
| IFTIKHAR AHMED | SHADAB KHAN |
| USAMA MIR / MOHD NAWAZ | SHAHEEN SHAH |
| HARIS RAUF | NASEEM SHAH |
