The Pakistan cricket team arrived in India on Wednesday to participate in the 2023 World Cup, receiving a warm welcome in Hyderabad. Led by Babar Azam, the team spent a significant amount of time in Hyderabad after departing from Dubai, where they had a lengthy nine-hour layover. They flew from Lahore in the early hours of Wednesday and arrived in Hyderabad during the night.
Pakistan's first warm-up match is scheduled against New Zealand on September 29, followed by a clash with Australia on October 3. Their tournament opener will take place against the Netherlands in Hyderabad on October 6, with a subsequent match against Sri Lanka scheduled for October 10.
Pakistan was one of the last teams to announce their 15-member squad for the World Cup, partly due to a major injury suffered by star pacer Naseem Shah right before the tournament. Naseem, who is part of the star fast bowling trio including Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, sustained a shoulder injury during the Asia Cup and was subsequently ruled out of the marquee tournament in India.
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Moin Khan has now shed light on Naseem's injury, revealing that the star pacer had been "constantly complaining" about the problem, but the medical team continued to ignore it.
“Naseem's injury is a disaster of Pakistan's team medical panel and physiotherapist. Because he has been constantly complaining that he is having problem since three to four months yet they were continuously playing him. A player would always wish to not get dropped but when he is telling you about his injury, you have to take it very seriously. The medical panel didn't take it seriously. This was a recipe for disaster,” Moin told Cricket Pakistan.
Moin, however, stated that Hasan Ali was the optimal choice for Pakistan in light of Naseem's injury-induced absence.
“The authorities in PCB should task them [medical panel] because we suffered a great loss ahead of World Cup when Naseem was in form and was bowling extraordinarily. And which is why now we have to take Hasan Ali. Hasan Ali is an experienced bowler, who has been through similar circumstances. From that point of view, this decision is suitable and Hasan Ali's selection is justified.”
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