Asia Cup 2018: Pakistan Probable playing 11 against Bangladesh

Pakistan and Bangladesh face off in what is virtually a semi-final of the Asia Cup 2018 to decide who will face India in the final at Dubai on Friday. Both teams know victory will get them one step closer to winning the tournament and defeat will be the end of the road for them.

Pakistan kickstarted their Super Four campaign with a thrilling victory over Afghanistan thanks largely to a Man of the Match performance by Shoaib Malik. However, in their next game, they were thrashed by India on the back of centuries from openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma.

Ahead of Pakistan's clash against Bangladesh, let us take a look at their probable 11.

Openers

Fakhar Zaman

Fakhar Zaman, known for his aggressive prowess as an opener, has played rather sedate innings so far, registering scores of 24, 0, 0, and 31. His furious style is important to Pakistan's batting lineup, as he is the focal part of the top-3 that has scored the vast majority of Pakistan's runs in series prior to the Asia Cup.

Zaman will look to make his mark on UAE pitches where he has struggled in his career by getting Pakistan off to a good start against Bangladesh.

Shan Masood

Shan Masood has 12 Test caps for Pakistan but is yet to play an ODI despite having a phenomenal List-A average. Averaging nearly 58, Masood will be keen to show the team management that he has what it takes to perform in limited-overs cricket.

Dropping Imam ul-Haq may seem a bit harsh, but having Masood's 81 strike rate in List A cricket paints the picture of an opener who can keep the scoreboard ticking, something Imam ul-Haq has struggled with. All things considered, it might be time to give Masood a debut here.

Middle Order

Babar Azam

Babar Azam plays a cover drive

Pakistan's stalwart batsman comes in at No.3. His ability to pile on runs in any given match is key for Pakistan. They win 62.5% of matches when Azam crosses 50. He needs to be able to consolidate if a collapse happens, as well as being aggressive during the latter stages of his innings.

Sarfraz Ahmed

After coming in at No.6 vs Afghanistan and No.5 vs in the first match against India, Sarfraz promoted himself up the order and came in at No.4 vs India on Sunday. After a forgettable series of games, the captain seemed to find his groove.

He scored 44 in a century partnership with Shoaib Malik to consolidate after Pakistan were 58-3. He's not a particularly adept hitter from the outset; his strength is in picking gaps and finding the singles and doubles. Coming in at 4 would be ideal for him.

Asif Ali walks off the field with Shoaib Malik

Shoaib Malik

Without a doubt Pakistan's standout from an otherwise wretched Asia Cup, Shoaib Malik has been carrying Pakistan's batting on his shoulders. Malik showcased his aggression and ability to finish off games in his 51* vs Afghanistan, the match of the tournament.

Later, Malik displayed his cool temperament in a classy 78 vs India on Sunday. Having Shoaib Malik at 5 allows for him to exhibit his versatility; whether it's consolidating after a collapse or scoring boundaries with consummate ease during the death overs.

Asif Ali

Asif Ali displayed his hard-hitting ability against Bhuvneshwar Kumar on Sunday. He pummeled two sixes and a four of the pacer, which provided Pakistan with the impetus it needed as he finished with 30 off 21. If the foundation is set for him, Ali has shown the ability to go off, and if he clicks; watch out Bangladesh.

All-Rounders

Shadab Khan

Shadab will need to be on target for Pakistan against Bangladesh after being toothless on Sunday

Pakistan's spearhead in the spin department comes in at 7. Armed with a ripping leg break and a deceptive googly, Bangladesh will have trouble with the 19-year-old. Although he went wicketless in his last outing (0/54), he has the ability to remain economical. His batting is a plus as well.

Mohammad Nawaz

The UAE, where pitches wear down and become dusty, is heaven for spinners. Selecting 6 pacers for the Asia Cup certainly raised some eyebrows, but the scarcity of spinners in the Pakistan camp allows for slow left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz to come into play.

In his first match against Afghanistan, Nawaz picked up 3/57, making the best use of a spinning pitch. In a tournament where spinners have dominated time and time again, Pakistan needs multiple spinners in their lineup, and Nawaz is ideal for the spot.

Bowlers

Hasan Ali

Hasan Ali hasn't been his usual self so far in the Asia Cup

Coming in at 9 is the first of Pakistan's pace trio: Hasan Ali. His purple patch of the Champions Trophy miracle run seems to have faded away as he has struggled to find his rhythm lately. He is armed with multiple variations and a solid outing for him against Bangladesh could be the confidence boost he needs.

Junaid Khan

The only other player (aside from Masood) in the Pakistan squad yet to play a game this tournament is Junaid Khan. Once a dominant fixture in the Pakistan XI, he finds himself on the outside looking in.

Junaid Khan needs to play in what could be Pakistan's final game of the tournament. The team's poor performance in the pace department should open the door for Junaid to play against Bangladesh. He offers better control and pace than others and there has never been any doubts about his commitment to the cause.

Shaheen Afridi

One of the youngest names in international cricket, Shaheen Afridi made his ODI debut against Afghanistan, picking up 2/38 in an impressive display of pace and discipline. Standing at a tall 6'6", Afridi will look to trouble the Bangladesh batsmen with his pace and bounce. The variety he offers should ensure that he is picked for the crucial encounter ahead of the out-of-sorts Mohammad Amir.