Credit: Twitter
On September 22, Friday, Pakistan named their 15-member squad for the ODI World Cup 2023, scheduled to be played in India from October 5 onwards. The biggest news from the squad announcement is the decision taken by the team management and selectors to leave out one of their best fast bowlers Naseem Shah, who suffered a shoulder injury in the Asia Cup 2023, and replace him with the experienced Hasan Ali.
Pakistan are set to open their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 group stage campaign with a matchup against the Netherlands on October 6, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. After reaching India later this month, the Men in Green will take on the Blackcaps in their first warm-up game of the quadrennial spectacle on September 29, at the aforementioned venue.
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Naseem Shah has been advised to undergo surgery after he was examined by the medical experts, as per the PCB website. If the 20-year-old takes the option of surgery for his shoulder injury, his expected recovery time is around three to four months.
The Chief Selector of the Pakistan cricket team, Inzaman-ul-Haq talked about the injury to Naseem Shah, which forced them to not pick him in the ODI World Cup squad, and said, “We were forced to make one change because of an unfortunate injury to Naseem Shah. We had a few injury scares in the recent Asia Cup, but I am glad to share that all the players are fully fit and are eager to perform for their country in the all-important tournament.
“I have received encouraging reports from our medical panel about Haris Rauf. He has started to (shadow) bowl at the National Cricket Academy and will be available for selection,” he added.
Inzamam-ul-Haq also spoke about his expectations from the Pakistan cricket team in the ODI World Cup 2023. He was quoted as saying, “I have a firm belief that this squad can bring the World Cup trophy to Pakistan and make the whole nation proud with their incredible performances. It is time to get behind our team and provide them with the backing and support that they need.”
Here is the Pakistan squad for the ODI World Cup 2023:
Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usama Mir
Travelling Reserves - Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed, and Zaman Khan
