Pakistan

Mercurial. Exciting. Unpredictable. The usual adjectives still apply for Pakistan, for whom stability remains an alien concept. No-one epitomises that better than captain Shahid Afridi, who combines jaw-dropping brilliance with bouts of apparent diffidence. Their erratic performances may do little for the nerves of the fans, but Pakistan certainly quicken the pulse of the neutrals, who can look forward to seeing the likes of Umar Akmal and Umar Gul strut their stuff with bat and ball respectively. With Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer suspended, greater responsibility rests on the shoulders of the experienced Younus Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq, former skippers both.

Squad: Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal (wicketkeeper), Younus Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Ahmed Shehzad, Junaid Khan.

Captain: Shahid Afridi
Coach: Waqar Younis

Key Man: Umar Gul
Among the finest limited-overs bowlers in the world, Gul’s potency with the new ball is matched by unnerring accuracy with the old. With Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer suspended, Gul becomes the central figure in the Pakistan pace attack, although he will rely heavily on the ageing Shoaib Akhtar for support.

World Cup Record
1975: 1st round
1979: Semi-finals
1983: Semi-finals
1987: Semi-finals
1992: Winners
1996: Quarter-finals
1999: Runners-up
2003: 1st round
2007: 1st round