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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finally revealed the 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023.
The squad’s announcement was delayed by several days as the PCB took stock of a disappointing Asia Cup campaign where they finished bottom of the Super Four group following defeats to India and Sri Lanka and the injuries faced by major bowlers during the tournament.
PCB chief selector Inzaman-ul-Haq made the announcement of the team. Babar Azam will lead the team which will tour India for the mega tournament that begins on October 5.
Fast bowler Hasan Ali has been added to World Cup squad in place of the injured Naseem Shah. Hasan last played an ODI in June 2022 and last played for Pakistan in the second Test against New Zealand in Karachi in January this year.
Pakistan have also brought in an extra legspinner in Usama Mir, who made his ODI debut earlier this year against New Zealand but was not part of the Asia Cup squad.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Wasim Jnr make up the remainder of Pakistan’s pace attack, while Muhammad Haris is among the reserves. Spin-bowling allrounder Muhammad Nawaz also keeps his place in the side, while Faheem Ashraf misses out.
Pakistan begin their World Cup campaign with a warm-up match behind closed doors against New Zealand on September 29, followed by another against Australia on October 3. Their first game of the tournament is against the Netherlands on October 6 in Hyderabad.
Squad
Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Abdullah Shafiq, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), M Wasim Jnr, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir.
Reserves
Muhammad Haris, Zaman Khan, Abrar Ahmed.
