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As the cricketing world eagerly awaits the clash between Pakistan and Australia in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja has shared his invaluable insights and recommendations for the Pakistan team as they prepare to face the mighty Aussies.
Adapting to local conditions is often the key to success in cricket, and it seems to be a theme that Raja is emphasizing ahead of Pakistan’s upcoming battle against Australia. The match is scheduled for October 20 in Bengaluru, where the pitch conditions are expected to favor batsmen.
The suggested change
Raja’s valuable suggestion is straightforward but could be game-changing. He strongly recommended that Pakistan should contemplate sacrificing an all-rounder in favor of a specialist. The idea behind this proposed change is to bolster Pakistan’s batting lineup, especially considering the favorable batting conditions in Bengaluru.
“I think Pakistan should go for the chase. Pakistan weren’t able to score even 200 runs against India while batting first on a good batting strip, so they should think about chasing against Australia,” said Raja as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.
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Strengthening the bowling
Raja also emphasized the importance of bolstering Pakistan’s bowling attack, keeping in mind the nature of the pitch in Bengaluru. The conditions in Bengaluru are well-known for being more favorable to batters, and in order to have a competitive edge, a stronger bowling unit becomes essential.
“The conditions there [in Bengaluru] will suit batting, so Pakistan needs to strengthen their bowling bearing in mind the pitch. If you need to sacrifice an all-rounder for a specialist, they should definitely do that,” Raja added.
Pakistan’s performance in the World Cup
Pakistan’s journey in the ICC World Cup 2023 has seen mixed results so far. They have secured two wins out of three matches, but their most notable defeat came at the hands of arch-rivals India on Saturday. As they gear up to face Australia, a formidable opponent, the advice from Raja may prove invaluable in guiding Pakistan to a successful campaign.
