The three Khans will have to do what Imran Khan did for the 1992 World squad. — File

The study of differential calculus illustrates the rate of change, projected by the slope of curves. In simple words; it is the speed at which change takes place. Although, the nominal motion of time is eternally constant, the 21st century technological revolution has increased activity and escalated the realm of time. It seems, each year goes by faster than the previous and every week quicker than its preceding count. In changing times, it is extremely important to keep pace, not with time, but change itself.

In March 2011, Pakistan faced its fiercest rival on enemy turf at cricket’s biggest stage: the World Cup Semi-Final. At the battlefield of Mohali, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar had a blistering start and India was on course to post a score of over 300. The Pakistani spinners clawed back and Wahab Riaz produced a magical spell that restricted India to 260. In reply, Pakistan cruised to 70 for 1 in 15 overs when Mohammad Hafeez lost his wicket and Younis Khan walked in to partner Asad Shafiq, soon followed by Misbah-ul-Haq.

In the next 44 minutes, Younis scored 13 runs in 32 balls with a strike rate of 40.62. Misbah continued to bat with a similar strike rate while wickets at the other end kept tumbling under scoreboard pressure. Misbah was the last man out in the 50th over, falling 30 runs short. Shoaib Akhtar looked on from the dressing room and never forgot or forgave the men who had accusingly ended his career. Either way, it was time for Pakistan to move on.

The next four years were spent with Misbah in charge of the Test and ODI teams. While Misbah led from the front and produced some memorable performances in Test cricket, Pakistan’s ODI results always begged for more. In the dynamic environment of the modern game, Pakistan continued to employ a strategy that appeared ancient. Keeping wickets in hand during the first power play and trying to accumulate rather than impose and explode through the innings.

Pakistan has successfully chased targets above 260 only twice (once against Bangladesh) since the battle of Mohali four years ago. In the time, Pakistan has won six out of the fourteen ODI series played against the top teams of the world and finds itself ranked number 7, only above West Indies and Bangladesh.

What have the Pakistan cricket board and the selectors tried to alter in order to keep pace with needs of the modern game, adapt, improve results and prepare for the World Cup? Not much, unfortunately.

Five out of the top eight batsmen are expected to be the same from the team that played in Mohali. Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi. If it weren't for a bad series against New Zealand, Asad Shafiq would have also been a part of both sides.

In contrast, defending champions India have only three surviving members from the team in Mohali, in their entire squad of 15. While only MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli could feature in the first playing XI. The likes of Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Harbajan Singh and Zaheer Khan amongst others were replaced by the younger generation.

The lack of options or bench strength is often used as an excuse to retain aging and non-performing players in Pakistan. However, a player like Fawad Alam cannot seem to find a place in the squad. He averages 45 in ODIs at a strike rate of 75 and in 2014 he averaged 69, scoring 345 runs. In comparison all other Pakistani batsmen averaged below 40 (qualification 250 runs) in the same period. But, injustice is a norm that the nation seems to have accepted, if not willfully embraced.

However, to be fair to the selection committee and accounting for the disastrous decisions made by many previous administrations, the squad could have been far worse. Names like Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal were circling the grapevine and even getting media mileage from certain quarters. The PCB has done well to keep them away and put another nail in their career.

The bowling looks good with Junaid Khan and Mohammad Irfan leading the attack. The inclusion of Yasir Shah over Raza Hasan and Zulfiqar Babar means that Pakistan might potentially play with two leg spinners.

The surprise inclusion of Sohail Khan and young Ehsan Adil, who have gotten the nod over the experienced Umar Gul. Gul, who recently returned from a prolonged knee injury, seems to be on his last legs as an international cricketer and the World Cup omission has signalled the intent of the selectors.

Out of all the problems Pakistan might face down under, it is the balance of their playing XI that is of gravest concern. A bowling ban on Mohammad Hafeez could prove more damaging than the forced exclusion of the wily Saeed Ajmal. If Hafeez is likely to open the innings, Pakistan could be playing a bowler short. Using Haris Sohail and Ahmed Shehzad as the fifth bowler could be detrimental to Pakistan’s chances.

This World Cup is likely to see the end of three stalwarts of Pakistan cricket; Shahid Khan Afridi, Mohammad Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq Khan Niazi. The three Khans hail from a generation of cricketers that were infamous for being corrupt, disloyal and at times downright treacherous. But apart from their name, they have something else in common: honest intent.

What should normally be a prerequisite for adorning national colours, in Pakistan, where cricket fans often feel betrayed, the virtue of integrity reigns supreme, and the three Khans have been the epitome of national loyalty that translates into massive fan following. Their aging legs will have the complete support and prayers of a 180 million Pakistanis as they embark on the most important journey of their cricketing careers, hoping to emulate perhaps the greatest cricketing Khan of them all.

While change remains the only constant in this dynamic world, soon, the old guards will finally have to give way to the new. However, in Pakistan you can never be completely certain, or entirely surprised, especially when national captaincy is on offer.