Shahid Afridi Picks Pakistan Squad For ICC World Cup 2023, Includes Imad Wasim

Former Pakistan National Cricket Team skipper Shahid Afridi has picked his 15-man Pakistan squad for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and he has included Imad Wasim in his team.

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is the 13th edition of the 50-over Cricket World Cup. The competition is scheduled to be held from October 5 to November 19 in India and a total of 10 teams are set to take part in the World Cup 2023.

There have been a lot of speculations about which players will make it to Pakistan’s World Cup squad following their Asia Cup debacle. After Pakistan’s exit from the continental tournament, reports of verbal spats between the players emerged, which were later denied by the players.

Amid all this, the Men In Green have been handed a major blow as star pacer Naseem Shah is reportedly set to miss the World Cup in India due to his shoulder injury that he picked during the Asia Cup.

Meanwhile, Shahid Afridi, while speaking to a Pakistani media channel, said that all-rounder Imad Wasim, who last played an ODI for Pakistan in 2020, is a dangerous new-ball bowler and should be a part of Pakistan’s World Cup squad.

“We will have two types of tracks, either we’ll get a seaming track or a very flat track. Look, the thing is we already have spinners. Sometimes, if a fast bowler is not bowling well and is being bashed, then you need a bowler like Imad Wasim who can be a very dangerous bowler with the new ball,” Afridi said as quoted by CricketPakistan. 

I have seen his batting, and I felt very confident about him – Shahid Afridi on Imad Wasim

Afridi added that Imad offers good batting and is an experienced and mentally strong player, who will be useful for Pakistan in the World Cup.

“I have seen his batting, and I felt very confident about him. He has played some fantastic innings. He’s a player who knows how to handle pressure, mentally strong, quite senior, and has played a lot of cricket,” he added.

Shahid Afridi further made a surprise pick by including the 22-year-old pacer Arshad Iqbal in his squad.

“Arshad Iqbal possesses very strong qualities as a very robust bowler. He bowls with aggression and on those pitches, you need a bowler who bowls with strong pace,” he concluded.

Shahid Afridi’s Pakistan Squad For ICC World Cup 2023: Babar Azam (C), Shadab Khan (VC), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Saud Shakeel, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, Zaman Khan, Arshad Iqbal, Hasan Ali (subject to fitness)