Sports
ICC ODI World Cup 2023: Pakistan squad announced, this player replaces Naseem Shah
The Pakistani cricket fans can now relax after getting restless for PCB’s delayed approach towards the announcement of the squad.
New Delhi: The Pakistani Cricket Board (PCB), have finally announced the official Pakistani cricket team for the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023, to be played in India starting next month.
PCB announced the squad through a press conference held by the chief selector, Injamam-ul-Haq, at Gaddafi Stadium. PCB also shared a video on their official social media platform X (Formerly known as Twitter) account.
🚨 Our squad for the ICC World Cup 2023 🚨#WeHaveWeWill | #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/pJjOOncm56
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 22, 2023
The Pakistani team features most of the players exactly as same as their official squad for the recently concluded Asia Cup 2023, where the men in green were knocked out of the Super 4 stage after facing a last-ball heartbreak against the spirited Sri Lankan squad.
The premier Pakistani batsman, Babar Azam, will be leading the squad, with the all-rounder Shadab Khan as his deputy.
They informed Imam Ul Haq and Abdullah Shafique would be taking the command of the opening responsibility alongside struggling Fakhar Zaman as their back-up opener.
Hard-hitting Md. Rizawan and Iftikhar Ahmed will be taking care of the Pakistani middle order alongside the young Agha Salman on their side.
The command of the spin department will be taken care of by Md. Nawaz will also be getting the support of his vice-captain, Shadab Khan.
Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf will again be leading the Pakistani pace unit alongside Md. Wasim Jr. and the returning Hasan Ali.
Pakistan will surely be missing the services of their main frontline pace bowler, Naseem Shah, who is ruled out from the World Cup after suffering a hand injury in their match against India in the Asia Cup 2023, Super 4.
My mind still isn't accepting that Naseem Shah isn't part of WC #squad 😭
Life's so cruel to him 🥺💔
Ruled out of the #CWC2023 which was supposed to be breakthrough event for him to become the Greatest 💔 pic.twitter.com/3yoLFolUgE— SAAD 🇵🇰 (@SaadIrfan258) September 22, 2023
Abrar Ahmed, Zaman Khan and Md. Haris will be the travelling reserve for the team.
Notably, Pakistan last won the ODI World Cup in 1992 under the leadership of now-cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan.
Since then Pakistan’s most successful World Cup campaign came in 2011, where they reached the semi-finals of the premier event, only to get their dreams crushed by the eventual winners of the tournament, MS Dhoni-led team India.