The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made an exciting announcement on Friday regarding the men's squad for this year's ICC World Cup. Leading the team will be the incredibly talented batsman, Babar Azam.
In a predictable yet significant change, Hasan Ali has been selected to replace Naseem Shah in the 15-member World Cup squad. Unfortunately, Naseem sustained a shoulder injury during the Asia Cup 2023 and is expected to be out of action for an extended period.
Ali's last appearance in an ODI match for Pakistan was in 2022 against West Indies in Multan. His inclusion in the squad brings a wealth of experience and skill to the team.
The announcement of the squad was made by the chief selector, Inzamam-ul-Haq, at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Pakistan has made two changes to their squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023. All-rounder Faheem Ashraf has been excluded, while wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris has been moved down to the reserves.
The highly anticipated tournament will be held in India, featuring 10 teams vying for the prestigious title. Spanning from October 5 to November 19, the matches will be spread across 10 venues, with the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad hosting both the opening match and the final.
The Cricket World Cup will follow a round-robin format, ensuring that all teams face each other in a total of 45 league matches.
Following the league matches, the top four teams will advance to the semifinals. These crucial matches will be held in Mumbai on November 15 and in Kolkata on November 16. To account for any unforeseen circumstances, reserve days have been allocated for the semifinals and the final, ensuring fair play and a thrilling conclusion to the tournament.
Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, 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: Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed, Zaman Khan
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