‘Lol mazak ha yeh team’ – Fans react as Pakistan announces squad for ODI World Cup 2023

Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq on Friday (September 22) announced Pakistan’s 15-member squad for the Men’s ODI World Cup 2023. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also revealed their player through a video on its official X (formerly known as Twitter) handle. Babar Azam will lead the side while all-rounder Shadab Khan will act as his deputy for the marquee event, which will be held in India from October 5.

After star pacer Naseem Shah was ruled out of the tournament with a shoulder injury, Hasan Ali has been included in the squad as a replacement. This came as a surprise to cricket fans as Hasan had not played an ODI match for over a year. The 29-year-old has not been a regular in the Pakistan white-ball squad after a disappointing 2021 T20 World Cup campaign.

“If you see how Hasan Ali performed in the LPL, or other performances, he has performed better than most. He is an experienced bowler who has played big mega events for Pakistan and performed well in them. And when Naseem was ruled out, we needed someone who could bowl with the new ball. He bowls well with both old and new ball, and is a team man. His presence lends energy to the team,” Inzamam was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Pakistan puts faith in struggling Fakhar Zaman

Bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris, who were part of the recent Asia Cup squad, were left out of the quadrennial competition. However, Haris, along with pacer Zaman Khan and spinner Abrar Ahmed, will travel with the team to India as reserves. Meanwhile, PCB has kept faith in opener Fakhar Zaman, who has struggled throughout the continental tournament.

Pakistan’s World Cup squad: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim

The Men in Green will open their ODI World Cup campaign against the Netherlands at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on October 6. The current World No. 1 team will take on arch-rivals India at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 14.

Here’s how fans reacted to Pakistan’s 15-man squad for ODI World Cup 2023: 

https://twitter.com/imhussy92/status/1705107372996428255

The inclusion of Hasan Ali is good.
Experience player hona chahiye in big tournament

— Ankur Chauhan (@AnkurChauhan07) September 22, 2023

Usama mir is a new bowler did he played ODI before ??

— Naina (@Nainajersey18) September 22, 2023

Lol mazak ha yeh team

— Amir Rajput (@iaamirraj) September 22, 2023

https://twitter.com/LalaLodubhai/status/1705109179218981053

https://twitter.com/VaseemA12492718/status/1705114501862035621

Is baar Hitman shadab ka career to khatm hi kr dega.

— Akki (@AkshayC07562271) September 22, 2023

https://twitter.com/gyaniKhopdi/status/1705105664715137043

https://twitter.com/SELVA0120/status/1705112131430170897

https://twitter.com/JUBILJOHN/status/1705106842748088779

https://twitter.com/Gauravg2152/status/1705105623439053197