Historically, Pakistan has been known for its formidable bowling lineup, but as they enter the World Cup in India, their traditional strength seems uncertain. With bowling cracks showing, the onus falls heavily on their batters, particularly captain Babar Azam, to propel their quest for a second 50-overs World Cup title.

Until recently, Pakistan occupied the top spot in the ODI rankings, and their campaign in the Asia Cup seemed promising. However, losses to arch-rivals India and Sri Lanka during the tournament not only knocked them off their perch but also raised new concerns.

Pace spearhead Naseem Shah’s injury disrupted his potent new-ball partnership with Shaheen Afridi. While Hasan Ali was drafted in as his replacement, Pakistan now relies heavily on Afridi for early breakthroughs.

Acknowledging the lapses in fielding and wicket-taking abilities during the middle overs, Babar emphasized their commitment to improvement. “We are going to work on it and hopefully will not be repeating them,” he stated before departing for India.

When asked about their goals for the tournament, Babar made it clear that a top-four finish is just a stepping stone. “The top-four is a small goal for us. We want to come out as winners,” he asserted.