Abrar Ahmed in contention for Pakistan squad for ODI World Cup 2023
Pakistan’s mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed is reportedly a strong contender in the squad for the upcoming World Cup 2023. The much-awaited marquee event is set to take place in India from October 5 to November 19. Pakistan will begin their campaign against the Netherlands, on October 6, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, in Hyderabad.
The 24-year-old leg spinner is likely to get the chance. All-rounder Shadab Khan’s poor form in the 50-over format has been a cause of concern for the Men in Green. According to Cricket Pakistan, a meeting took place between the Pakistan captain, Babar Azam, and the national selection committee on Sunday, September 17, to discuss and give a conclusive shape to the squad. The team’s leadership, along with the selection committee, has reached a consensus to keep changes to a minimum. They will be largely mirroring the squad from the recently concluded Asia Cup.
The selection committee and team leadership have agreed to make a few changes to the roster. It will mainly reflect the lineup from the recently concluded Asia Cup. Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq and Captain Babar are due to meet soon with the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee, Zaka Ashraf, for a key discussion. The final selection for the showpiece event will be subject to Ashraf’s validation.
Pakistan expected to announce squad soon
The official announcement of the Pakistan squad for the World Cup is expected to take place in the coming week. The fitness level of players who have been recovering from injuries will also taken into consideration by the selection committee. Naseem Shah is expected to miss the entire World Cup, due to a severe shoulder injury. Considering the pacer’s fitness, Zaman Khan, Shahnawaz Dahani, Hasan Ali, and Arshad Iqbal are likely to get a spot in the team.
Haris Rauf, who suffered a side strain during Asia Cup, is anticipated to recover in time for the competition. Imam-ul-Haq, who suffered back spasms before the Super Four stage, and Agha Salman, who had bruising under his eye, are both on the road to recovery and should be fit well before the event starts.
