Impact of Pakistan Pace Bowlers in the WT20 2016, India - Part I

Pakistan has always managed to produce quality fast bowlers at the drop of the hat. They have picked up a strong pace bowling line up that will look to trouble the opposition batsmen with their speed, precision and movement. Pakistan, currently have a plethora of exceptional left arm pace bowlers coming through their ranks and even though it may seem one dimensional to the naked eye, all the left arm pacers bring something different to the table.

Wahab Riaz

Wahab has all the qualities of a tearaway quick bowler, high pace, aggression and the ability of move the ball but he has lacked consistency for most part of his career. He took 5 wickets in the Semi Final against arch rivals India in the 2011 World Cup but it was not enough to prevent a loss for Pakistan. He was at his very best in the Quarter Final of the 2015 World Cup as well, where he bowled a memorable and devastating spell to Shane Watson – that spell surely ranks as one of the greatest ever in ODI cricket – although, as luck would have it, it was again not enough to win Pakistan the game.

He has a quick bouncer and a nasty late swinging yorker and he has been in splendid form in the ongoing PSL where he has snaffled 10 wickets in only 6 matches. He is also a very handy lower order batsman capable of using the long handle to good effect. A total team man, he will always give his 100% and his high impact bowling will certainly test more than a few batsmen from around the world.

Impact Rating – 8/10

Mohammad Irfan

Rarely do you get a bowler who is almost 7’1’’ in height and when a bowler with that height generates pace touching 140-145 kph, then it becomes a serious issue for any batsman trying to negotiate him.  Irfan, with his extra height, generates disconcerting bounce even off a good length and when combined with his high pace and his ability to move the ball he becomes almost demonic.

His career has been riddled with injuries and he played only a couple of ODI’s on Pakistan’s recent tour to New Zealand. He has just returned to cricket and is currently playing for the Islamabad team in the PSL. It will be treat to watch Irfan if he is fully fit and bowling with gas. He has the ability to make the batsmen hop even on dead pitches and negotiating him will be a severe test of a batsman’s ability and character.

Impact Rating – 7.5/10

Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Irfan are definitely the key bowlers in the Pakistan pace bowling line up and Pakistan will require both of them to be fit and firing for the ICC World Twenty20 2016 to be able to go deep in to the tournament. Both are capable of bowling match winning spells and their 8 overs will be a test for any opposition especially under lights when the pitches might just do a little bit.

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