As Pakistan prepares for the 2027 World Cup, former captain Salman Butt has named three hitters he thinks should be in the national ODI side. Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, and Imam-ul-Haq are the three players Salman Butt has supported; they have all shown promise in recent international cricket.
Salman Butt argued for the three based on their performances in both Test and ODI formats as well as their ability to score hundreds.
His advice comes as Pakistan gets ready for forthcoming missions that would influence the World Cup squad selection.
Shafique’s ODI record and recent performance
Abdullah Shafique recently played in Pakistan’s Test series against the West Indies, scoring 184 runs in all of the games. His ability to construct significant innings was demonstrated by his performance, which featured a score of 160 not out. Shafique’s ODI average of 29.48 shows that he is still honing his skills in the 50-over format. He appears to have the technical groundwork to enhance his ODI record based on his Test performances.
Ayub’s reliability in 50-over cricket
With an average of 46.93 in ODI cricket, Saim Ayub has proven to be a more reliable player. Butt’s evaluation of the young batter’s potential for a century is consistent with his ability to turn beginnings into big scores. Ayub appears to be prepared for a long-term position in Pakistan’s middle order based on his previous performances. He is one of the team’s more dependable batsmen in the 50-over format according to his average.
Imam-ul-Haq’s background and typical
Imam-ul-Haq participated in the West Indies Test series as well, amassing 89 runs at an average of 22.25 and a peak of 63. Imam is one of Pakistan’s more dependable batsmen in ODI cricket, with an average of 47.04. He is a contender for the squad planning process because of his background and reliability. His ODI record and Test exposure together make him a stronger candidate.
From August 19 to September 13, Pakistan will play England in a three-Test series. These players have more chances to show off their skills and preparedness for World Cup selection throughout this series. The final squad composition for the 2027 competition will be determined by the results in the upcoming weeks.
