Pakistan on Friday (September 22) announced their 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, slated to get underway on October 5 in India.

The squad was pretty much the same that featured in the recently held Asia Cup 2023. The Men in Green suffered an injury setback in the continental event as star pacer Naseem Shah picked up a shoulder injury during the Super 4 clash against India.

Later, the scan results confirmed that Naseem’s injury was quite serious. As expected, the right-arm quick wasn’t considered for the World Cup and Hasan Ali replaced him in the squad.

Another pacer Haris Rauf, who was struggling with injury in the Asia Cup, has been included in the squad. On the other hand, seam-bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf failed to make the cut.

There were doubts if Fakhar Zaman will make it to the World Cup squad given his poor form lately but the selectors have backed the senior opener for the quadrennial event.

Besides Fakhar, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, skipper Babar Azam, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed, Saud Shakeel and Agha Salman are the batting options in the squad.

Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz and Usama Mir are the spinners in the side whereas Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead the Pakistan pace attack, also featuring Mohammad Wasim Jr.

Abrar Ahmed, Zaman Khan and Mohammad Haris have been picked in the side as travelling reserves.

Pakistan will open their World Cup campaign against Netherlands on October 6 in Hyderabad.

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

Travelling Reserves: Abrar Ahmed, Zaman Khan and Mohammad Haris