Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle has emphasized the importance of a strong opening partnership and effective spin bowling for Pakistan in the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023. He stressed that Pakistan needs a potent opening combination to support their skipper, Babar Azam. Bhogle voiced his support for the current opening duo of Abdullah Shafique and Imam ul Haq, believing that their consistent performances could have a significant impact.

Bhogle discussed Pakistan’s middle-order and spin bowling department, highlighting the key role they play in the team’s success. He expressed some concerns about Pakistan’s middle order and the need for reliability from players like Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Saud Shakeel. Bhogle also emphasized the importance of spinners delivering in the middle overs.

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In addition, Bhogle noted the crucial role of fast bowler Shaheen Afridi in Pakistan’s bowling efforts. He emphasized that if Pakistan doesn’t get wickets in the powerplay, they can appear as a weaker bowling side.

Overall, Bhogle believes that Pakistan’s success in the World Cup will depend on the performance of their openers and the ability of their spinners to perform effectively in the middle overs.