Mark Roche

Sri Lanka Roster Breakdown

Expectations are low entering the tournament. Will this squad overcome those predictions?

Batters/Fielders: Dimuth Karunaratne, Avishka Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis

Bowlers: Jeffrey Vandersay, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep

All Rounders: Angelo Matthews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perara, Isuru Udana, Jeevan Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana

Don’t Sleep On

–Kusal Mendis: I expect a huge tournament for Mendis, who’s done nothing but quickly scale the Sri Lankan cricket ranks. With an ODI average of 28, there’s plenty of room for growth for the 24-year-old. He’s capable of high scores, as shown by his 102 against Bangladesh in 2017.

–Thisara Perara: A team with multiple all-rounders are sure to lean heavily on the experienced Perara. With a high bowling mark of 6/44, Perara is capable of taking wickets. How well he can control the run letting is something to watch.

–Avishka Fernando: Another young gun to look out for. While Kusal Mendis is the crown jewel of the future, Fernando made a huge splash making the roster as 21 years old and his 72 against Scotland shows great potential.

Needed to Make a Run

– Lasith Malinga: The old gun in his final run on the biggest stage. Malinga had a solid IPL with key wickets in an exciting final over in the championship match.

–Dimuth Karunaratne: Taking over as a new captain immediately before the biggest tournament in your sport can’t be an easy thing. How can Karunaratne hold up to that pressure?

Key to the Cup

– Angelo Matthews: The former captain. Averaging 42 runs at a strike rate of 80.73 makes Matthews one of Sri Lanka’s most explosive batters. If they’re going to make a surprise run deep into this tournament, his runs are greatly needed.

Why Should I Watch?

Sri Lanka is a proud cricket nation playing with little expectation. That’s a scary combination! This team mixes experience with youth, providing some wild card potential.

How Fun is This Team? (5/10)

Their form heading into the tournament leaves a great amount to be desired. They aren’t very flashy, aside from Malinga and his bowling theatrics.

Best Case:

A winning record in group play. I don’t see this team making much of a push towards the semi-finals. Finishing with a .500 record, or close to it, will be a successful tournament.

Worst Case:

Zero wins. Which, unfortunately, isn’t too far out of the question. Sri Lanka is the underdog in every match expect possibly Afghanistan. Not that matches are played on paper, but that doesn’t bode well for them.

South Africa Breakdown

It’s World Cup glory or heartbreak every tournament for the Proteas. Is this the roster that can break the curse?

Batters/Fielders: Faf Du Plessis ©, Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (WK), Aiden Markram, David Miller, Rassie van der Dussen

Bowlers: Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phelukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir

All Rounders: JP Duminy

Don’t Sleep On

– David Miller: He’s known for big run breakouts and may just be called upon to have an explosive innings to steal a match.

–Lungi Ngidi: Steyn and Rabada is the likely partnership to open up innings, with Ngidi, South Africa brings a third powerful pacer to the table. Not many other nations can say that. Ngidi catching fire and racking up wickets would only mean success for the Proteas.

–Rassie van der Dussen: His full name is Hendrick Erasmus van der Dussen. He’s in this spot on name alone! As far as actual cricket goes, van der Dussen is expected to be a reliable option behind Amla, de Kock and du Plessis. An average of 88.25, in a rather small sample size of 9 matches, shows what van der Dussen is capable of!

Needed to Make a Run

-Imran Tahir: The swan song for one of the most exciting bowlers in recent cricket history. Be on the lookout for the classic Tahir sprint, we’ll likely know how South Africa is performing based on how Tahir’s celebrations go. They need him to rack up the wickets this tournament.

-Faf du Plessis: His leadership is vital. He’s spoken in recent interviews about the pressure on this South African team to do what all others before them couldn’t and reach a World Cup final. Can he keep cool under pressure? A semi-final/final trip may hang in the balance.

Key to the Cup

–Kagiso Rabada: He’s one of the best bowlers in the world, so there’s not much introduction needed here. In order for South Africa to make a run, Rabada needs to have a tournament similar to Trent Boult’s 2015 World Cup. My bet is Rabada leads the tournament in wickets after the group stage matches are settled.

Why Should I Watch?

South Africa is your best friend who, when you are all out, is one step away from closing with his/her prospective mate, only to have it slip away in the most heartbreaking way possible. You never want to give up on that friend, they’re your best friend, but you’re constantly afraid of watching them get their heart broken again. South Africa boasts an experienced batting and bowling side, one that is capable of beating any team on any given day. They are 100% good enough to win this tournament but don’t get too attached because it will likely end in heartbreak.

How Fun is This Team? (9/10)

Tahir and his celebrations alone are enough to get them a high score in this category. Rabada has some attitude to him when he gets going, which is great to watch. Steyn isn’t afraid to talk his shit. Really their bowling attack is feisty and not afraid of anything or anyone.

Best Case:

World Cup glory! This version of the Proteas does what no other team before them could do and win the World Cup. Amla and de Kock lead from the front and put up huge numbers match after match allowing for the bowlers’ plenty of leeway to do their thing. They beat New Zealand in a rematch of the 2015 semi-final and take down host nation England in the final.

Worst Case:

I think you know where I’m going here. Although I can’t foresee a match ending in a more heartbreaking fashion than 2015’s semi-final. Unfortunately, this is the worst case section, so let’s come up with one! I’d say losing that exact way again in the semi-finals would be the worst possible outcome, yea? Okay, that’s it, another World Cup without making it to the finals after being so close.

Bangladesh Roster Breakdown

Can the Tigers hunt down enough wins to make a deep tournament run?

Batters/Fielders: Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain

Bowlers: Mashrafe Mortaza, Mohammad Saifuddin, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Jayed

All Rounders: Soumya Sarkar, Mahmudullah, Shakib al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan

Don’t Sleep On:

–Mehidy Hasan, Mahmudullah, Soumya Sarkar. I’m putting the all-rounders together because this team is so dependent on them. If Bangladesh is to make a run or pull an upset or two, these guys to play a major role.

Needed to Make a Run:

– Tamim Iqbal: The veteran and calming hand at the top of the lineup, Iqbal needs to lead from the front every match.

– Mashrafe Mortaza: The captain! Aside from al Hasan, Mortaza is the biggest name in this squad. His leadership and decision making are key, especially dealing with the various grounds in England.

Key to The Cup:

– Shakib al Hasan: He’s the best all rounder in the world. Do I need to say much more? Bangladesh doesn’t get anywhere without al Hasan having put on a world-beating effort. There’s going to be a match where he wins it single-handedly. Sri Lanka, I’m looking at you, for some reason.

Why Should I Watch?

You never know when another 178 run partnership will pop up, but that’s exactly what happened the last time Bangladesh played in an ODI tournament in England. Al Hasan can turn a match with his bat or bowling, and veterans like Iqbal, Mahmudullah, and Mortaza can all win a match by themselves.

How Much Fun is this Team? (6/10)

There’s not much flash here. As a neutral, this isn’t a team that jumps off the page. As noted previously in this post, al Hasan is the shining light of this squad. He’s enough to watch on his own. Other than him, the rest of the team plays great cricket, but this isn’t a category about just cricket.

Best Case:

Upsets, upsets, upsets!! Wins over either New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa would be quite the result! Pair those with 50/50 matchups with Sri Lanka and Afghanistan and Bangladesh could make a push for a semi-final spot.

Worst Case:

Loses against the big teams are expected, however, those matches are expected to be close. Multiple blowouts against the elite teams and a poor showing against opponents they should beat is the worst case scenario for the Tigers.

West Indies Roster Breakdown

Winners of the 2016 T20 World Cup, can the West Indies find their stride and bring back ODI glory in 2019?

Batters/Fielders: Darren Bravo, Chris Gayle, Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer

Bowlers: Fabian Allen, Sheldon Cottrell, Shannon Gabriel, Ashley Nurse, Kemar Roach, Oshane Thomas

All Rounders: Andre Russell, Carlos Brathwaite, Jason Holder (C)

Don’t Sleep On:

–Oshane Thomas: Take over the IPL in your first season? ✔️ A 5 wicket haul against world number one and World Cup favorites England during his last ODI series? ✔️. Thomas might be the next elite speed bowler out of the West Indies. Plus, my All Name XI is looking for a pace bowler 🤔

–Shimron Hetmyer: Speaking of an elite name, Shimron is top tier, my god. Unfortunately, an elite name can’t hit a massive six or spray the field with masterful fours. Luckily Hetmyer, coming off a series against England where he hit a century, can hit all the shots in the book. It’s going to be interesting to see where he appears in the lineup with DreRuss back on the squad.

–Carlos Brathwaite: You’re going to hear this a lot in this post, but Brathwaite, amongst other batsmen on this roster, can turn a match on its head rather quickly. The Windies best case scenario is Brathwaite taking a handful of wickets while going off for the occasional quick 40 or 50.

Needed to Make a Run:

– Chris Gayle: Is it actually an issue that Gayle starts a little slow? His play against England was electric, but while the runs were plenty, he struggled to develop strong partnerships. Gayle is going to give you ones, fours, or sixes and that’s it. Frankly, I respect his refusal to even attempt running back for two. He knows where his goose is cooked and he doesn’t stray from it. A true icon.

–Jason Holder: Captaining a side mixed with experience and youth, Holder’s decisions will make or break this run. Where does DreRuss bat in the lineup? Who’s going to lead the bowling attack? WHY IS THERE NO ROVMAN POWELL ON THE TEAM!?

Key to the Cup

– Andre Russell: I mean, you’ve seen what he’s doing in the IPL, right? His strike rate is out of this world right now, and if that carries over to the World Cup then the Windies are capable of making a deep run. I’m gonna make a bold prediction and say DreRuss is going to hit more than one six this tournament, I’ll bet my life on it.

Why Should You Watch?

Do you like sixes? Do you enjoy players swinging for the fences with little regard for getting bowled? Then this is your team.

How Fun is This Team (8/10)

They’re either going to go off and put up big numbers or fall quickly and there’s really no in between. Frankly, that’s incredibly exciting to me, but I understand many fans appreciate a more well-rounded attack. Aside from Thomas, there’s nothing too overly exciting about this bowling attack. They’re efficient, sure, but not flashy. Tune in and watch them swing away, but follow from your phone while they’re bowling.

Best Case

Gayle leads from the front and keeps his red hot ODI form going. Dre Russ channels his T20 strike rate/form and closes out innings with a flurry. The bowling holds up with young gun Thomas and veteran Roach towards the top of the wicket-taking list. A miracle run to the semis while upsetting either India, Australia or England along the way.

Worst Case

The bats don’t come alive. The bowling attack bleeds runs. The Windies flame out of the world cup with a sub .500 record. Loses against big teams like England, India & Australia won’t be a shock, but falling to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, all teams that are beatable, would be a poor result.

New Zealand Roster Breakdown

ICC ODI Ranking: 3rd.

Small but mighty, the Blackcaps are peaking at the right time.

Batters: Kane Williamson (Capt), Tom Blundell (WK), Martin Guptill, Tom Latham (WK), Colin Munro, Henry Nicholls, Ross Taylor

Bowlers: Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson

All Rounders: Colin de Grandhome, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner

Don’t Sleep On:

-Henry Nicholls: Coming off a prolific ODI & Test series against Bangladesh in March, Nicholls secured his place on the roster. Any and all additional runs batters not named Kane Williamson or Ross Taylor can produce will be huge for the Blackcaps.

-Mitchell Santner: Spin is becoming more and more important in this format of the game, so Santner’s play has a chance to be a difference maker. Don’t sleep on Santer’s batting acumen either. As he showed against England, he can tee off out of nowhere.

-Lockie Ferguson: 🔥🔥🔥What Santner brings to the spin, Ferguson brings to the pace. The fireball-throwing rightie won’t be asked to carry the load, but he’ll need to pick up key wickets match in and match out if New Zealand wants to get out of group play.

Needed to Make a Run:

–Trent Boult: I’m not saying Boultee has to lead the World Cup in wickets like in 2015, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt! New Zealand needs Boult to come out firing and lead this team from the front. With limited action in the IPL, Boult should have the energy needed to carry this team.

–Ross Taylor: Is there a more overlooked, elite batter in the world than Ross Taylor? With a score of 69 and 45 amongst his most recent ODI matches, Taylor is more than capable of putting the team on his back if needed. Don’t be shocked if Taylor single-handedly wins a match this tournament.

Key to the Cup:

-Kane Williamson: Was there ever a doubt? Kane is one of the top 4 batters in the world right now. He has the ability to take over a match regardless of the situation. An early wicket at the start? Kane’s going to hold steady and right the ship. If New Zealand wants to make a deep run, then it starts and stops with Kane Williamson’s decision making as captain and ability in the crease.

Why Should You Watch?

A balanced attack that can win a match in a variety of ways. When on, they can bowl you out with relative ease, or chase down a high total. They’re also prone to risking too much while batting, leading to random run outs, which is both exciting and incredibly frustrating.

How Fun is this Team? (7/10)

The New Zealand way is to remain calm and keep things under control. While that’s an effective and, ultimately, winning formula, it doesn’t exactly make for a spectacle. What the players lack in showing emotion, they more than make up for with explosive play. Don’t forget it’s Martin Guptill who has the highest run total in World Cup history after his 237 against the West Indies in the 2015 edition.

Best Case

The Best case for this team is a Semi-Final run. A trip to the finals is certainly possible depending on the matchup, but it would take a good amount of things falling the right way for New Zealand to take home the World Cup.

Worst Case

Struggling to establish a strong bowling attack, the Blackcaps fail to make it out of group play and get sent home with a sub .500 record. The inability to get key wickets caused New Zealand an early exit in the ICC Champions Cup in 2017, the last major tournament held in England. A similar result isn’t out of the question.

Prediction

It’s going to come down to how well the Blackcaps play when they’re the underdogs. They’ll need to steal a win from either England, India, South Africa, or Australia to make the deep run they’re capable of.

India Roster Breakdown

ICC Ranking: 2nd

If “stacked” isn’t the first thing on your mind when you see this roster, I have some questions.

Batters: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, MS Dhoni (WK), Dinesh Karthik (WK)

Bowlers: Kedar Jadhav, Vijay Shankar, Yuzendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami

All Rounders: Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja

Don’t Sleep On:

–Yuzendra Chahal: The spinner is known for surprising bursts of wickets when he’s on. Look for him to thrive in the middle overs and grab an important wicket to break up a dominant partnership.

–KL Rahul: Seemingly back from his uncharacteristically slow start in the IPL, Rahul will look to translate that T20 success to the ODI format, where his experience is relatively limited. Don’t be shocked if he cracks a 50 or two during the tournament.

–Kuldeep Yadav: The left-handed wrist spinner, still seems weird to say, will likely be a spark plug for India this tournament. Making his first World Cup appearance, Kuldeep has huge potential and can take a game over seemingly out of nowhere, just ask England!

Needed to Make a Run:

–Hardik Pandya: The all-rounder from Gujarat is proving this year in the IPL that the hype and potential surrounding his career is warranted. His quick-strike ability both with the bat and ball are sure to get India out of potential unfavorable situations.

–Jasprit Bumrah: ICC’s number one ranked ODI bowler in the world, Bumrah is coming into the World Cup in elite form. India doesn’t have the tournament of their dreams without Bumrah being one of, if not the top wicket-takers.

Key to the Cup:

-Virat Kohli: The best player in the world on arguably the best team in the world. There will be times this tournament where Kohli has to lead from the front, so don’t be shocked when he wins a match by himself with a classic Kohli chase.

Why Should I Watch?

Do you enjoy a stacked batting lineup? Great, you’ll love this team. Do you enjoy a loaded bowling rotation? This team has that, too! India is the most famous team in cricket and you won’t want to miss them do their thing on the biggest stage.

How Fun is This Team? (9/10)

It’s India. Year after year they’re the best team on paper. With guys like Kohli, Dhoni, and Sharma, the batting power goes seemingly never ends. If you like cricket, and if you’re reading this that’s probably the case, you’re going to enjoy watching this team play. On top of that, Hardik Pandya brings an extra flair to the scene that will liven up any match.

Best Case:

With India, it’s a trophy or bust in every major tournament they enter. This World Cup is no different. Expectations say it’s time for another World Cup and I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that a team with Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Bhuvi Kumar, and Jasprit Bumrah are more than capable of winning one.

Worst Case:

The weight of those expectations hold down this team that’s seemingly stacked at every position. A semi-finals or, even worse, finals loss to Pakistan is the absolute worst case scenario for this tournament. I think a diehard Indian fan would rather not even make the semi-finals than have that outcome.

Prediction:

With a lineup as deep and talented as India, it’s hard to see them slipping up enough this tournament to not earn a trip to the semifinals. Once there, it’s anything goes. That being said, if I could pick any team to win one match, on any given day, it’s very hard to pick against this India side.

Want to see exactly how far I have India progressing? Click here to see my full tournament breakdown!

England Roster Breakdown

England

ICC ODI RANKING: 1st

Batters/Fielders: Eoin Morgan, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (WK), Joe Denly, Joe Root, Jason Roy

Bowlers: Tom Curran, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid

All Rounders: Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, David Willey

Don’t Sleep On:

–Tom Curran: Tom’s success has been getting overlooked recently by his younger brother’s breakout IPL season, but that doesn’t mean Tom is a slouch. His 18 wickets in 13 matches are nothing to scoff at, especially when you consider the competition was Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies.

– Chris Woakes: The leader of England’s pace attack, Woakes must lead from the front. By taking early wickets, Woakes can put England on a favorable path. He’ll also be the one expected to hold it down at the death.

– Joe Root: It’s hard to say not to sleep on a player of Root’s caliber, but go with me here. Root is unquestionably a top four test batsmen in the world. With the rest of the English lineup seemingly taking a more T20 style approach to their batting, it will be up to Root to steady the ship and play the long game.

Needed to Make a Run:

– Jonny Bairstow: Can he keep his hot streak from the IPL going into a different format on a bigger stage? If so, England is going to be an absolute FORCE while batting.

–Jos Buttler: While Buttler isn’t having the same results as his fellow wicketkeeper, his ability to drop a 50 or 100 on you is only matched by a few others in the world. I don’t think it matters who’s behind the wicket, as England would be wise to keep both of these players in the lineup.

Key to the Cup:

– Ben Stokes: The all-rounder has been up and down this IPL season and can’t seem to find his consistency. England wants to make a deep run this tournament, and Stokes can be that difference maker. England has elite talent on both the batting and bowling side, but Stokes’ potential to be elite at both makes him a potential tournament changer.

Why Should I Watch?

The host nation has won the past two World Cups, can England keep the streak going? Watching them and how they handle that pressure is one of the major storylines of this tournament. Morgan and his boys are ranked #1 in the world rankings, so they’re entering the tournament as favorites.

How Fun is This Team? (10/10)

They swing for the fences when attacking, almost to a reckless degree. Their bowling attack is strong but not overpowering, so expect them to score a lot and hold on for dear life when defending a chase.

Best Case

The World Cup trophy comes home to England for the first time! This is the only result that will satisfy English fans. This team is peaking at the right time and it’s golden ODI generation and playing style makes this tournament all or nothing.

Worst Case

World Cup 2015 ring a bell, anyone? While this team is much stronger than that one, a similar result isn’t out of the question. While I think this team has what it takes to make a deep run, the expectation of winning the cup on home soil is a lot to handle.

Final Prediction

I expect a deep run from this England team. The batting attack is strong when it’s clicking and playing on their home soil will give them a similar boost it gave New Zealand four years ago.

Australia Roster Breakdown

ICC ODI RANKING: 5th.

Australia hopes to go back-back in World Cups. Is this the team to do it?

Bowlers: Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

All Rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis

Don’t Sleep On

–Adam Zampa: Prone to getting key wickets, Zampa’s ability to sniff out that wicket in the time of need is something Australia needs. With Starc and Cummins expected to do the heavy lifting, Zampa’s ability to hold down the middle overs is key.

–Usman Khawaja: It’s hard to overlook a guy who put up 98, 62, 88, 100, 91, and 104 in matches against India and Pakistan, yet most of the attention on this Australia team seems to be on Warner and Smith coming back. Khawaja is going to take over a match this tournament, you watch.

Needed to Make a Run

–Steve Smith: The former Australian captain looks to regain his ODI form after extended time away. He’s going to get his chances, how he capitalizes on them will say a lot about Australia’s run.

–David Warner: Similar to Smith, Warner being back in the squad is a huge boost to the offensive attack. Warner’s the leading run getter in the IPL without even playing the final few matches, which is incredible. He’s peaking at the right time and that’s terrifying for non-Australian fans.

Key to the Cup

–Mitchell Starc: After being the leading wicket-taker at the 2015 World Cup, Starc is certainly not afraid of the big stage. While he may not need to reach that level of dominance again, his leadership and ability to take key & early wickets is vital if Australia wants to repeat as champions.

Why Should I Watch?

They’re the defending World Cup champions, that should be enough, right? Add on to that the drama surrounding Smith and Warner’s return to the lineup and this Australia team, more than others, is a must watch squad.

How Fun is this Team to Watch? (10/10)

Can I trade fun for drama-filled? (Remembers this is my blog and I can do whatever I want) Yes, I can! Make that 10/10 because who the hell knows what’s going on with this team. Smith and Warner should fit back into the squad seamlessly, but that would just be too easy, right?

Best Case

World Cup glory. That’s it, that’s the only reason Australia comes to these events. There is no other scenario where Aussie fans leave happy.

Worst Case:

Oh boy. This is where it gets fun. Smith and Warner’s return causes mayhem in the locker room causing shocking losses and an early exit. Off the field issues arise and force a member of the team to be sent home during the tournament, bringing back the dark cloud over Australian cricket. Unlikely, sure, but this is the absolute worst case scenario, so simply losing to England, India, New Zealand and a shocking upset to Afghanistan, isn’t necessarily out of the question.

Prediction

The team unites and things start to click as the tournament gets going. They don’t win in spectacular fashion, but I think they make a deep run. It’s Australia, it’s what they do.

Want to see exactly how far I have Australia progressing? Click here to see my full tournament breakdown!

Pakistan Roster Breakdown

ICC Ranking: 6th

After winning the ICC Champions Trophy in England, Pakistan will look for similar results this time around.

Batters/Fielders: Sarfaraz Ahmed (CPT WK), Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Imam ul Haq, Shoaib Malik

Bowlers: Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Hasnain, Shaheen Afridi

All Rounders: Faheem Ashraf, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan

Don’t Sleep On

– Shadab Khan: How will the young spinner handle the big stage? Well, if his T20 performance in the PPL, and recent high draft selection in the CPL, are any indications, we’re in for a breakout performance.

– Haris Sohail: This middle order batsmen will be called upon to hold an innings together this tournament. Whether or not he’s up to the challenge could be the difference in a deep tournament run, or an early trip back home.

– Imam-ul-Haq: He’s playing incredible cricket right now. His recent 151 against England in their World Cup warm up match shows massive potential for what he’s capable of on English soil.

Needed to Make a Run

– Hasan Ali : The key to their bowling attack, Ali can do it all. They’ll be looking at him to lead from the front and take timely wickets. He had a wonderful showing on English pitches in 2017, hopefully that form continues here!

– Sarfaraz Ahmed: The captain! His decision making and strategy is vital to the success of this team. They’ll look for him to put on a good showing with the bat, but ultimately his lineup and fielding adjustments are essential.

Key to the Cup

– Babar Azam: With an average of nearly 50 runs and a strike rate of 85, Azam is set to explode onto the big stage. With him anchoring the attack at the third spot, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq will be free to tee off during their opening partnership.

Why Should I Watch?

They won the most recent major ODI tournament in this very country two years ago and many of that team is back. That 2017 team surprised many, but that won’t be the case again this year, as expectations weigh heavy. This team can beat anyone but also lose to anyone.

How Fun is This Team? (6.5/10)

Pakistan plays a consistent and efficient brand of cricket that wins matches, which is ultimately all that matters. But this question isn’t asking if the team is good or not, it’s asking how fun they are. And that answer is…meh. Look for explosive batting from Azam and ul-Haq, teamed up with young talent in Shadab Khan and Shaheen Afridi to make this team worth watching if you’re a neutral fan.

Best Case

A repeat of the ICC Champions Trophy! Azam turns into the world-beating batter he’s destined to be and has a historic tournament while leading from the front. Hasan Ali leads the bowling attack to devastating results. They beat India in both group play and in the Finals to hoist the trophy.

Worst Case

The batting lineup completely fails to show up and Ahmed’s in-game decisions fail to make a difference. India proceeds to roll through them in their group match, and losses to Afghanistan and Bangladesh late in the tournament force an early exit.

Prediction

A big win over India in the group stage ultimately isn’t enough to make up for shock losses against either Sri Lanka or Afghanistan, resulting in Pakistan missing out on the semi-finals.