Judging from their recent performances, there isn't much cause for hope. Although I do think the selectors have done a decent job of exploiting a limited pool of resources, in realistic terms, the team's chances can be truly assessed only after analysing the individual players making up the unit; particularly the more vulnerable ones, who could potentially keep Pakistan from progressing into the finals and winning the trophy.

For me, these vulnerable players are none other than Younis Khan (batsman) and Sohail Khan (bowler).

With an average of only 31.75, Younis has long maintained an on-and-off ODI run, his performance flickering even more than that of the famously unpredictable team he is part of.

In the last World Cup, Younis Khan scored half-centuries against Kenya and Sri Lanka, and then dwindled away. In the semi-final, when his presence at the wicket was crucial, he returned to the pavilion after scoring a mere 13 runs.

Yet, his position in the team remained secure.

Then the 2013 tour to South Africa happened, and ever since then, the veteran batsman’s spot has remained questionable.

Now, with the next World Cup just round the corner, the only advantage Younis Khan has is his experience, but his performance in the grounds at Australia and New Zealand has not been impressive at all. He has played a total of eight matches in Australia at an average of 20. In New Zealand, he has played six matches to score 115 with an average of 23.

He is an ace test cricketer and although he appears to be ‘too senior’ now, there is no other batsman to possibly replace him. But still, that does not qualify him for a position in the ODI squad — just like Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who hasn’t played an ODI game after World Cup 2011.

Younis’s insistence on being in the team despite terrible performances is unfair to other capable and young players.