The 15-player Pakistan cricket team for the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup has been revealed, and it has been confirmed that injured player Naseem Shah will miss a significant amount of time.
Pakistan’s first game is scheduled to take place against the Netherlands on October 6th, the tournament is scheduled to start in India on October 5.
No unexpected players made up Pakistan’s 15-men roster for the ICC World Cup 2023, which will take place in India from October 5 to November 10. But there are two significant adjustments. One is the substitution of pacer Hasan Ali for the injured Naseem Shah. It goes without saying that Shah will be terribly missed during the World Cup matches because, during the recently concluded Asia Cup, the young fast bowler had been bowling with pace and swing and was occasionally unplayable.
Naseem Shah was a member of the fearsome pace trio for Pakistan that also included Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi. Hasan Ali, a debutant from 2016 with 60 ODIs under his belt and who hasn’t participated in an ODI since June 2022, was included, indicating a lack of confidence on the part of the selectors in a number of young pacers who gained attention due to their PSL performances. Faheem Ashraf’s exclusion from the team from the Asia Cup is the other significant modification. Despite being a capable all-arounder, Ashraf’s failure to perform well during the Asia Cup cost him his spot on the team.
The good news is that Haris Rauf, a pacer, was able to get fit in time to make the World Cup roster. Babar Azam’s leadership and Shadab Khan’s support of him are wise choices on the part of the selectors, as any changes so close to the biggest cricket event in the world would not have been good for the team’s morale and spirit as a whole. Shadab, a leg spinner, and Babar’s leadership skills were questioned during the Asia Cup. Fakhar Pakistan unveils World Cup 2023 squad
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Zaman, a flamboyant frontline batsman who has been out of form for some time, was also able to secure the selection of the selectors. Young guns in the group include the leg-spinner Usama Mir and the batsmen Abdullah Shafique, Agha Salman, and Saud Shakeel. The team appears strong overall and is capable of challenging any foe.
Hasan Ali comes in.
Ali, who is 29 years old, last participated in an ODI in June 2022. His most recent appearance for Pakistan was in the second Test match against New Zealand in January of this year.
Hasan Ali has performed better than most if you look at how he did in the LPL or other performances. According to Inzamam, he is an accomplished bowler who has represented Pakistan in significant mega-events and excelled there.
The medium-pace bowler was chosen for the team, he continued, because of his sense of camaraderie and his capacity to infuse the group with vigor.
Additional changes to the squad.
Shah wasn’t the only Pakistani team member to get hurt recently. Injuries have also forced the exclusion of Muhammad Hasnain and Ihsanullah from the squad.
Mohammad Haris is among the reserves, and Usama Mir has been added as a second leg-spinner after making his ODI debut earlier this year.
I haven’t changed anything like that. Inzamam explained that the team has been using this lineup for the past two years and that it would not be acceptable for me to try to change things up within three weeks of my appointment.
Following Muhammad Hafeez’s resignation from the Pakistan Cricket technical committee two days prior to the squad announcement, rumors of unease regarding the selection of the team’s members have increased.
Pakistan squad:
Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Wasim Jr.
Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed, and Zaman Khan are the reserves.
Inzamam-ul-Haq, the head selector, stated: “The World Cup is the most important event in any cricketer’s life. I want to congratulate all the cricketers who have made it to the squad through their impressive performances.”. We have shown faith in the same group because of this team’s outstanding performance over the past couple of years.
Due to Naseem Shah’s unfortunate injury, we had to make one change. We had a few injury scares during the most recent Asia Cup, but I’m happy to report that everyone is healthy and eager to compete for their nation in the crucial competition. The medical panel’s reports on Haris Rauf have been positive, I’ve been informed. At the National Cricket Academy, he has begun to (shadow) bowl and will be available for selection.
I firmly believe that this team can bring Pakistan the World Cup trophy and inspire pride throughout the entire country with their outstanding performances. It’s time to rally behind our team and give them the assistance and backing they require.
Before facing the Netherlands on October 6 in the tournament opener, Pakistan will play two warm-up matches on September 29 against New Zealand and October 3 against Australia.
The team of Babar Azam enters the mega-event as the top-ranked team and has the best win-loss record (2 point 400) among all teams that have participated in One-Day Internationals during this World Cup cycle.
Due to a lower net run rate than New Zealand, who won the competition in 2019, Pakistan was denied a place in the semifinals. New Zealand finished as runners-up. The 1992 edition marked the team’s best performance, and it culminated with them winning the trophy at the MCG after defeating England. In 1999, Pakistan participated in the championship game, and in 1979, 1983, 1987, and 2011 it advanced to the semifinals.
