Like it or not, the performance of this mirrored EXACTLY the 1992 WC team (the win loss sequence etc), just that in 92wc we got through with luck depending on the results of other games and here we didn't, so technically you can't say anything about this time without saying the same to the 92wc team. And with the way we finally clicked in the last 4 games, had we made the semis there WAS A good chance we could have gone all the way
But that is exactly what we have to focus on now, no more going through with a little bit of luck, we have to secure our spot in the playoffs now based on our own results and not relying on other teams. The youngsters performed well (for ppl playing in their FIRST EVER WC), I mean Babar Azam becoming the highest ever run scorer for any Pak batsman that too playing in his first and only WC, this guy will become a legend InshAllah, mark my words. Then you had Amir and Afridi FINALLY clicking. Harris Sohail playing in his 2nd WC has found full form so you see, consistency in selection in one way does pay off, but smart consistency! Fakhar and Imam are decent, yes they stuttered a bit, but they have great records and consistencies leading up to this WC, and this was the first WC for them. I think this whole young squad will be awesome by the next WC. One old horse is finally gone (Malik) and Hafeez still hasn't had the shame to announce his retirement yet, yes they served Pak well in the past but when you're 37+ and harming the team with consistent bad performances, you should have the morals to own up and step down.
Hasan Ali has all the talent, and was the No.1 bowler in the world last year with the most wickets, but obviously he has been absolute crap this year. Wasim Akram attributed his form to consistently playing T20's everywhere and in every league in the world and not ANY FIRST CLASS game at all, and this has led him to absolutely forget how to bowl yorkers and good length balls. He should only be given a chance again if he plays first class consistently and performs there as well.
Now Sarfraz is a tricky issue, as a captain he has achieved the most in LIMITED OVERS One day and T20 cricket after IK (you cannot deny this with he fact he won 2006 U-19WC, 2017 CT, losing only one T-20 series and having the record for most and longest T20 series wins as Captain and for a nation, keeping Pak at No.1 in T20 for almost 2 straight years now, 2 time runner up in PSL and one time winner). But any Captain MUST DESERVE HIS PLACE ON THE TEAM THROUGH HIS BATTING / BOWLING as well, and Sarfraz just hasn't done that at all as of late. He did come in higher in a couple of games and scored big in the recent Aus and Eng series and we have seen in the past that the guy can bat, but that's just it, why doesn't he do it regularly? And let's not even talk about his dreaded fitness.
Some are going to jump at me for this but hear me out. I think he should be given one more chance, atleast for the T20 world cup next year (a format where he was only one series loss as captain) and with experience both playing and captaincy wise going into the next wc, he may be much more well equipped. But all this with a MANDATORY CONDITION. He has to bat at at least 2 or 3 down, nothing lower and lead from the front, especially now that Malik is gone (and hopefully Hafeez too). And No.2, he along with everyone else has to improve their fitness. If not, Mohammad Rizwan is the obvious choice to replace Sarfraz as a player. And as for captaincy in case Sarfraz is booted, I know Imad Wasim is being touted as the next captain, and yes he does have merit, but a uniform captain across all formats is much better and Wasim hasn't even played a test yet. Babar Azam is the only player who is assured of a place in all 3 formats, and as the best player on the team he will automatically get everyone's respect on the team, whether they agree with him or not, and I think he should seriously be groomed to be the next captain!
So I think the team to spend time on to condition and prep for the next wc should be:
Imam
Fakhar
Babar
Sarfraz (ONLY WITH those above said conditions)
Harris
M. Rizwan
Imad
Shadab
Amir
Afridi
Usman Khan
and for the squad they can train
M. Hasnain
Hasan Ali (again with those conditions)
Asif Ali
Abid Ali