On Friday, Inzamamul Haq, the Chief Selector of the Pakistan cricket team, unveiled the 18-player squad for the ICC World Cup 2023. Notably, the squad includes bowler Hasan Ali, while star bowler Naseem Shah, who sustained an injury during the Asia Cup, has been omitted.
Unexpected delays in announcing Pakistan’s squad arose due to extensive consultations within the team management, prompted by the team’s humiliating exit from the Asia Cup and the injuries sustained by key bowlers during the tournament. Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq finally revealed the squad at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
🚨 Our squad for the ICC World Cup 2023 🚨#WeHaveWeWill | #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/pJjOOncm56
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 22, 2023
Scheduled to commence on October 5th, the World Cup will be hosted by arch-rivals India. Pakistan’s debut match is slated for October 6th, pitting them against the Netherlands at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in India.
Pakistan faced disappointment in the Asia Cup, suffering defeats to India and Sri Lanka, with India ultimately emerging as the tournament winners.
Ali was included in place of Shah, who injured his shoulder during the Asia Cup clash against India. Haris Rauf, who also sustained an injury in the same match, has made it to the squad. Shaheen Afridi, the leading pace bowler of the team, is also part of the lineup.
Notable omissions from the squad are bowlers Faheem Ashraf, who was part of the Asia Cup squad, and Mohammad Hasnain.
When asked about the selection of Ali, who hasn’t played an ODI since June 2022, Inzamam explained that Ali’s experience with the new ball was a key factor in his selection.
“Given Naseem’s absence, we needed a bowler who could effectively handle the new ball, and I believe Hasan Ali is an excellent choice for that role,” he stated. Inzamam also praised Ali’s team spirit and the energy he brings to the squad.
Regarding Shah’s injury, the chief selector mentioned that the reports received by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) indicated that Shah would remain sidelined even after the World Cup, which influenced the decision not to select him.
Inzamam emphasized that the team composition has remained largely consistent over the past two years. He expressed the importance of picking experienced players who can handle the pressure of a major event like the World Cup.
He clarified that the selection process remains open to all players, with performance in domestic cricket being the primary criterion. He also mentioned the toll that extended periods of play in challenging conditions might have taken on the players, leading to injuries.
Before concluding, Inzamam reiterated his trust in the players and their abilities. He emphasized that Pakistan was the number one ODI team before the World Cup and expressed confidence in the squad.
Pacer Naseem Shah shared on his social media account that he would not be part of Pakistan’s World Cup squad, expressing his disappointment while leaving his fate in Allah’s hands.
With a heavy heart, I’m sharing that I will not be part of this amazing team that will be representing our beloved country. While I’m disappointed, I believe everything is in Allah’s hands. InshahAllah will be on the field very soon.
Thank you to all my fans for the prayers!
— Naseem Shah (@iNaseemShah) September 22, 2023
Squad:
Babar Azam (captain)
Shadab Khan (vice-captain)
Abdullah Shafique
Fakhar Zaman
Haris Rauf
Hasan Ali
Iftikhar Ahmed
Imamul Haq
Mohammad Nawaz
Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper)
Mohammad Wasim
Agha Salman
Saud Shakeel
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Usama Mir
Reserve Squad:
Mohammad Haris
Abrar Ahmed
Zaman Khan
Hasan Ali replaces Naseem Shah in Pakistan’s World Cup 2023 squad
Babar Azam has been entrusted with the captaincy of the team, and Shadab Khan retains his role as vice-captain. Hasan Ali has been summoned to replace pacer Naseem Shah, who has been ruled out of the tournament due to a shoulder injury.
Notably, Ali is making a comeback to one-day international (ODI) cricket after a year-long absence since his last appearance against West Indies in Multan in 2022.
Addressing the situation, Inzamam mentioned, “We had to make one change due to Naseem Shah’s unfortunate injury. Although we had some injury concerns during the recent Asia Cup, I’m pleased to report that all players are fully fit and eager to represent their country in this crucial tournament. Our medical panel has provided positive updates on Haris Rauf, who has begun shadow bowling at the National Cricket Academy and will be available for selection.”
Inzamam expressed his strong belief in the squad’s ability to bring the World Cup trophy to Pakistan, urging the nation to rally behind the team and provide the support they need.
Babar Azam’s team enters the mega-event as the top-ranked side with the best win/loss ratio of 2.4 in this World Cup cycle among all ODI-playing teams.
The ICC World Cup 2023 will be hosted in India, featuring 10 teams competing for the coveted title across 10 venues from October 5 to November 19. The tournament opener and final will be held at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
The Cricket World Cup will adopt a round-robin format, with each team facing all others in a total of 45 league matches. The top four teams will advance to the semifinals, scheduled for November 15 in Mumbai and November 16 in Kolkata, with reserve days allocated for the semis and the final.
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