Inzamam-ul-Haq, the head of the national men’s selection committee, today announced Pakistan’s squad, featuring the returning pace bowler Hasan Ali, for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023 in India, commencing on October 5.
Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar Azam will lead the 15-member Pakistan squad in the mega-event, while all-rounder Shadab Khan will serve as his deputy.
Experienced pace bowler Hasan Ali returned to the Pakistan ODI squad after one year, replacing injured fast bowler Naseem Shah, who injured his right shoulder during the Asia Cup 2023 match against India.
“We were forced to make one change [Hasan Ali] 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,” chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq explained in the press conference.
Hasan Ali last played an ODI match against West Indies in June 2022, where he picked up two wickets. He has represented Pakistan in 60 ODI games and picked 91 wickets, since his debut in 2016. He was also part of Pakistan’s squad in the ICC ODI World Cup 2019.
🚨 Our squad for the ICC World Cup 2023 🚨#WeHaveWeWill | #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/pJjOOncm56
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 22, 2023
Young pace bowler Zaman Khan and wicket-keeper Mohammad Haris, who were part of the Pakistan squad in Asia Cup 2023, are named as reserve players along with leg spinner Abrar Ahmed, who has represented Pakistan in six test matches.
Meanwhile, Tayyab Tahir and Faheem Ashraf from Pakistan’s Asia Cup squad failed to make it into the ICC World Cup 2023 squad. Faheem Ashraf played three matches and picked up three wickets in the tournament, while Tayyab Tahir did not feature in any game.
Inzamam-ul-Haq also gave an update about pace bowler Haris Rauf’s recovery after getting injured during the match against India in the Asia Cup.
“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,” said Inzamam-ul-Haq.
The former captain showed faith in the current bunch of players and backed them to make the nation proud with their performance in the ICC World Cup 2023.
“This team has performed wonderfully well over the last couple of years and that is why we have shown faith in the same bunch,” he said.
“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.”
The Green Shirts will kick off their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on October 6 at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad. Prior to that, they will play two warm-up matches against New Zealand and Australia on September 29 and October 3 respectively.
Pakistan ICC World Cup 2023 squad
Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafiq, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, M Wasim Jnr, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha.
Travelling Reserves: Zaman Khan, Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed
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