Pakistan aim to build batting depth ahead of 2027 World Cup: Coach
Pakistan batting coach Michael Smith has said the team will focus on building batting depth and adapting to different playing conditions as it prepares for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
With a busy 12-month schedule of ODI cricket ahead, Pakistan aim to develop options across batting positions rather than rely on a handful of key players, Smith told PCB Digital.
The upcoming ODI tri-series will be another opportunity to assess the squad, which includes experienced batters Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman, alongside Salman Ali Agha, Saim Ayub and younger players.
Babar has scored 20 ODI centuries in 143 matches, while Salman is the only batter to have made more than 1,000 ODI runs since the 2023 World Cup.
Fakhar, Pakistan’s only double centurion in the format, has recorded three of the country’s four highest individual ODI scores, including knocks of 193 and 180 not out in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
All-rounders Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf and Arafat Minhas are also expected to contribute to the lower-order batting, while the squad includes wicketkeeper-batters Muhammad Ghazi Ghori and uncapped Saad Baig.
Smith, a former South African first-class cricketer who joined Pakistan before their Test series against England, said recent T20Is against Sri Lanka had provided useful exposure to pitches with pace and bounce similar to those the team could encounter at the World Cup.
With matches set to be played across different venues and surfaces, he said batters needed to develop their problem-solving skills and make sound decisions against varied bowling attacks.
“The best batters in the world problem-solve exceptionally well,” Smith said, adding that Pakistan wanted players who could adapt their approach to the team’s needs and win matches from both strong and difficult positions.
He said building depth across all batting positions would be a priority, with players given enough experience to prepare them for the global tournament.
Smith added that Pakistan wanted to establish a winning approach during the tri-series, while ensuring younger players learned from their more experienced teammates.
“Nothing builds confidence more than going into the World Cup when you have 12 months of really good white-ball cricket,” he said.