Our special guests this week – Hassan Cheema, the strategy manager at Islamabad United, and Ahmer Naqvi, a freelance writer on pop culture – analyze Pakistan's performances in their first three games of the T20 World Cup.

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Talking Points:

• Why the T20 World Cup is virtually a home tournament for Pakistan
• The emotional reaction to watching Pakistan win three in a row
• The importance of the Pakistan Super League
• A new generation forging a new identity and narrative for Pakistan cricket
• What Babar Azam has meant for Pakistan cricket as a whole
• Shaheen's stupendous opening burst versus India
• Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez - the stalwarts guiding the middle order
• The versatility of Imad Wasim
• Comparing this tournament and the 2017 Champions Trophy
• Pakistan winding back the clock by playing two anchors as openers
• The joy of watching a team do as you expect

Participants:

Hassan Cheema (@mediagag)

Ahmer Naqvi (@karachikhatmal)

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)

Related:

Why the PSL matters - Ahmer Naqvi - Dawn

Reflections from the Faysal Bank T20 - Ahmer Naqvi and Hassan Cheema - ESPNcricinfo

Rohit ball or Rahul ball: which Shaheen Afridi dismissal was better? - Osman Samiuddin - ESPNcricinfo

How Mohammad Hafeez has been a T20 giant in 2020 - Osman Samiuddin - ESPNcricinfo

The Shoaib Malik problem - Osman Samiuddin - ESPNcricinfo

Understanding T20 - a conversation with Hassan Cheema - 81allout podcast

Pakistan in 1999: the allure, the magic, and the heartbreak - 81allout podcast 

The Old Trafford blowout - 81allout podcast

Conversation with Ahmer Naqvi and Hassan Cheema - Couchtalks with Subash Jayaraman