T20 World Cup 2022: Pakistan's Report Card


image-lafaeqlpPakistan (Source: Twitter)

Pakistan lost the finals of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 to England by 5 wickets and 1 over left in the match. They went very close to their second T20 World title but in the end they finished just short. 

The Journey

The beginning of the World Cup was nightmarish for Pakistan to say the least. They lost their very first match against their arch-rivals, India. In the very next match they had to face a close defat against Zimbabwe. After this encounter they had to win all of their next three matches and then wait for the other results to qualify to the next stage. 

Once, they were through to the semi-finals, there was no stopping Babar's tigers. They brushed away New Zealand in the semi by 7 wickets and made their way to the top 2. 

In the finals, Pakistan were invited to bat first and they posted just 137 runs in their 20 overs. While defending such a low score the Pakistani bowling unit gave their best and mad a fight of it. But Ben Stokes was kept his calm to score 52 unbeaten runs of 49 deliveries to take England home.

Report Card

Muhammad Rizwan-5/10

Innings: 7  Runs: 175 Avg: 25.00 SR: 109.37

Muhammad Rizwan did not have a good start to the tournament. But as the tournament progressed he gradually found his touch back and in the semi-final he was particularly good laying a strong foundation. But failed to deliver in the all important final. 

Babar Azam- 5/10

Innings: 7 Runs: 124 Avg: 17.71 SR: 93.23

Expect the semi-final Babar Azam did not at all look like his own self with the bat in the tournament. The positive ratings that he earned was because of the way he lead the team and kept them together even after the initial debacle. Also, his knock in the finals gave the team a bit of resilience at the top. 

Mohammad Haris- 5/10

Innings: 4 Runs: 97 Avg: 24.25 SR: 144.77

Mohamad Haris's induction into team can well be identified as that moment in Pakistan's campaign from where the momentum took a shift for them. He came up the order in the matches he played and played some fiery knocks giving the boost in scoring rate to the team. 


image-lafapequSham Masood (Source: AP Newsroom)

Shan Masood- 7.5/10

Innings: 7 Runs: 175 Avg: 43.75 SR: 118.24

Shan Masood played a brilliant knock under pressure against India in the very first match. Even after that he made some important contributions for the team including the finals. But, his strike rate is the only reason he got some negative rating points. 

Iftikhar Ahmed- 5/10

Innings: 7 Runs: 114 Avg: 22.80 SR: 122.58

Iftikhar Ahmed played a brilliant knock under pressure in the first match against India. After that it has been an average tournament for the batter, but the impact of that particular innings earned him a fair bit of positive rating points. On the other hand, the failure to deliver in finals had a negative impact. 


image-lafaqj6fSahdab Khan (Source: AP Newsroom)

Shadab Khan- 7.5/10

Innings: 6 Runs: 98 Avg: 24.50 SR: 168.96

Overs: 26.0 Runs Conceded: 165 Economy: 6.34  Wickets: 11  Avg: 15.00

Shadab Khan has stepped with the bat and the ball whenever the situation demanded him. He has been specially brilliant with the ball in hand also his knock against South Africa was a special effort. 

Mohammad Nawaz- 2/10

Innings: 5 Runs: 68 Avg: 13.60  SR: 106.25

Overs: 9.0 Runs Conceded: 67 Economy: 7.44  Wickets: 3 Avg: 22.33

Before the start of the World Cup, fans and experts believed that Nawaz could be the x-factor Pakistan. But he literally underperformed in the tournament and even choked under pressure

Mohammad Wasim Jr.- 6/10

Overs: 17.0 Runs Conceded: 86 Economy: 6.61 Wickets: 7 Avg: 11.10

Mohammad Wasim Jr. has been good with the ball and at the time when their main bowler Shaheen Afridi was not in the best of forms. 

Haris Rauf- 5/10

Overs: 26.0 Runs Conceded: 178 Economy: 6.84 Wickets: 8 Avg: 19.5

Haris Rauf good in patches in the tournament. He lacked consistency which was the most expected of him because of his time in the Big Bash League. 

Naseem Shah-6/10

Overs: 26.0 Runs Conceded: 162 Economy: 6.23 Wickets: 3  Avg: 54.0

Naseem Shah failed to show the potency he displayed in the Asia Cup. Although he did not pick up enough wickets, is fiery spell kept Pakistan alive in the final. 


image-lafas1zmShaheen Afridi (Source: AP Newsroom)

Shaheen Afridi- 7.5/10

Overs: 25.1 Runs Conceded: 155 Economy: 6.15 Wickets: 11  Avg: 13.7

Shaheen Afridi took time fiend his wicket taking form. But he peaked at the right time and made some valuable contributions with the ball in important matches. In the final his injury turned out to be a deciding factor.

 Summary:

image-lafao3ujPakistan's Report Card for T20 World Cup 2022

Team of the Tournament contender: 

  1.  Shan Masood 
  2. Shadab Khan
  3. Shaheen Afridi

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2022 Final, ENG vs PAK: Ben Stokes masterclass helps England clinch the title