PCB announces Pakistan squad for World Cup 2023

Lahore: The selection committee of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Friday announced the national squad for the World Cup 2023.

According to details, PCB Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq announced the 18-member national squad during a press conference in which he said: “Naseem Shah was not included in the squad due to injury and thus he was ruled out of the World Cup”.

Players included in the squad

Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdullah Shafiq, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Agha, Muhammad Wasim Jr, Hasan Ali, Saud Shakeel and Osama Mir.

Reserve player

Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq said that three players have been kept in reserve for the World Cup, including Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed and Zaman Khan.

Inzamam-ul-Haq announces Pakistan squad for ICC World Cup 2023

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Inzamam added: “Hasan Ali has been included in the squad on the basis of experience. Big events require an experienced bowler, while Naseem Shah's absence from the team is a loss for us, however we are hopeful that he will be in the team soon”.

He stated that we have a lot of injuries in fast bowlers. In big matches we have tried to have bowlers who have experience and have played matches.

“There is more pressure on us than other teams in India, so handling the pressure is also a problem and considering these things Hasan Ali has been included,” said chief seletctor.

Pakistan's first World Cup match is against Netherlands on October 6, before which the national team will play warp matches.

It is pertinent to note that ICC ODI World Cup 2023 is starting in India from October 05, for which the teams have started arriving in India.

Pakistan's first World Cup match is against Netherlands on October 06, before which the national team will play warp matches.