Pakistan Squad For ICC World Cup 2023, Schedule 2023, Team List, Match List

Pakistan Squad For ICC World Cup 2023, Schedule 2023, Team List, Match List. Pakistan will begin their ICC World Cup 2023 campaign on October 6 in Hyderabad when they take on against the Netherlands. Ahead of the World Cup, they will be participating in the Asia Cup 2023. The Men in Green won their only World Cup title back in 1992 under Imran Khan’s leadership.

Ahead of the World Cup, the Asia Cup allows them to fine-tune their 15-member squad for the tournament. The PCB has announced a 17-member squad for the Asia Cup. For the World Cup, two players from their Asia Cup squad are likely to be axed.

It is expected that Pakistan’s World Cup squad will be more or less picked from the group of players who have been named in the Asia Cup squad. The board by now should have identified the core group of players.

Babar Azam will lead Pakistan in the World Cup. Ahead of the mega event, he would like to win the Asia Cup. Last year, Pakistan lost to Sri Lanka in the final of the Asia Cup. Babar is yet to win a major tournament as captain for Pakistan and he will have his eyes set on the World Cup.

With the bowling lineup Pakistan have, they are one of the favorites to win the tournament given the conditions they are playing in. Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf at the moment are the best pace-bowling trio and they have proved it in the ongoing series against Afghanistan.

The tough job for a side like Pakistan though is to be consistent. They have brought out their best whenever they have played in World Cups in recent years. In this article, we predict Pakistan’s probable 15-member squad for the ICC event.

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Pakistan Squad For ICC World Cup 2023, Schedule 2023, Team List, Match List

Openers: Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Imam-Ul-Haq

Fakhar and Imam are likely to be the first-choice openers for Pakistan. The duo opened the batting together in the last World Cup and are favourites to open in this World Cup as well. Fakhar especially plays with an attacking approach and it is Imam who builds an innings. Shafique will be the backup opener.

Middle-Order: Babar Azam, Shan Masood, Mohammad Haris

Babar should bat at number three. Shan Masood being a left-hander and Mohamad Haris being an attacking batter can go up and down the middle-order. Masood was a part of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad last year but was dropped from their Asia Cup squad. He can replace Iftikhar Ahmed in the World Cup squad.

Wicket-Keeper: Mohammad Rizwan

Mohammad Rizwan will be Pakistan’s first-choice wicketkeeper in the squad. Haris will be the backup keeper. Rizwan should ideally bat after Babar as they have a lot of understanding and can control the innings when batting together. They can use their experience of opening the batting together in T20Is in the World Cup.

All-Rounders: Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz

Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz should be picked as specialist all-rounders in Pakistan’s WC squad. Shadab has proved his mettle with the bat time and again for his side. Nawaz too is a dependable bowler and a good striker lower down the order. Another name, PCB can consider is that of Imad Wasim who was not picked in Pakistan’s Asia Cup squad.

Bowlers: Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Usama Mir, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Hassan Ali

Pakistan’s pace attack will be their biggest strength in this World Cup. Sheheen Afridi is expected to lead the attack with Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf as the two pacers who are expected to play every game.

Usama Mir will be the specialist spinner alongside Shadab Khan. Mir is still new to international cricket but is known to have a lot of talent. Mohammad Wasim Jnr and Hassan Ali can be the backup pacers in the squad completing a six-man bowling attack.

Pakistan Squad For ICC World Cup 2023: Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Imam-Ul-Haq, Babar Azam (C), Shan Masood, Mohammad Haris (WK), Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Usama Mir, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Hassan Ali

Read More: Pakistan World Cup Schedule 2023: Full Schedule With PDF, Match List, Time Table, Date, Venue, Time