BABAR AZAM
The fourth pick overall and first of mine is ranked 1st in T20Is, 3rd in ODIs and 5th in Tests. Babar Azam from Pakistan, is the only current player to be in top 5 batting rankings across all three formats. A right-hand, top-order batsman known for his discipline and level-headed attitude, Babar Azam laid claim to a long-term spot in Pakistan's batting line-up with a strong performance in 2016, making three consecutive ODI hundreds against West Indies in the UAE, and a 90 in his third Test, in Hamilton. He was 22 years old at the time. He has been regarded as a 'world class' talent, since his U-15 and U-19 days.
He already has 16 hundreds, and 41 hundreds in only 100 games. He is already Pakistan's leading run scorer in a single edition of the WC overtaking the great Javed Miandad. Surely, the national team's skipper Babar is one of the most exciting talent currently, who has proved his worth at the biggest stage i.e Test Cricket. His shots are soothing and easy on the eye. Being only 25, he can surely play for another 8-12 years.
His Stats:
Test: 1850 runs in 26 Tests at an average of 45.12, with 5 hundreds and 13 fifties.
ODI: 3359 runs in 74 ODIs at an average of 54.17 with 11 hundreds and 15 fiifties.
T20I: 1471 runs in 38 T20s at an average of 50.72 with a 97* and 13 fifties.
Shaheen Shah Afridi
A baby face perched on a two-metre body, the 19-year old, from Pakistn has already become Pakistan's best bowler. In less than 2 years since his debut, he has already shown that he belongs at this level. Standing at 6ft 6in, he burst into the nation's consciousness with 8 for 39 on his first-class debut, the best-ever figures by a debutant in the competition. Later, he was picked for the PSL, where figures of five wickets for four runs in a group game for Lahore Qalandars won him a place in the T20I squad against the West Indies.
He has the intelligence to take advantage of his height to extract bounce on the docile pitches of the UAE, while a mean yorker has proved especially difficult for batsmen to deal with. Most impressively, he can hit a good length time and again, and appears to have the temperament for a long career at this level. He gets impressive outswing naturally, and has developed a very good inswinger to the right handed batters.
There have been flattering comparisons already, with Pakistan boasting a rich tradition of left-arm fast bowling. He has made an impressive start to international cricket, taking last edition of the world cup's best bowling figures i.e. 6/35. He was the only bowler threatening Australia during the hopeless bowling performances, later last year. For Shaheen, many sense this is indeed, just the start.
Also, this might feel like a weird pick but anybody who has watched Shaheen in last 2-3 years very closely, knows that he will be an absolute superstar. He is very consistent with his lines and has excellent fitness too, as bowling end 130s in your 30th over is not the easiest task. He has been reborn again since the South Africa game in the World Cup last year. There were never any doubts about how talented he is but he is making sure that the talent isn't wasted. His stats have also dramatically improved since the game against South Africa, just like his lines and lengths, confidence and fitness.
His Stats:
Test:
30 wickets in 12 innings with a best of 5/77 in an innings. Economy: 3.13, average: 27.97
ODI:
40 wickets in 19 matches with a best of 6/35 in an innings. Average: 21.18, and Strike Rate is 23.1
T20I:
16 wickets in 12 games with a best of 3/20. Average of him is 20.81 and Strike Rate of 17.25
Asad's XI:
3.
Babar Azam
10.
Shaheen Afridi
@Master Bates You are next
@Master Bates I have not decided that which format this team will be for as I will look at available players and decide accordingly.
