As the 2023 edition of the ICC Men’s Cricket ODI World Cup commenced on October 5, featuring a high-octane match between England and New Zealand, and set to continue until November 19 in India, former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Amir has shared his insights regarding four noteworthy players he believes should have been part of Pakistan’s World Cup squad.
Cricket World Cup overview
The quadrennial event is taking place in India, with the opening and final fixtures scheduled at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the largest cricket stadium globally. Pakistan’s campaign under the leadership of Babar Azam, begins on October 6 against the Netherlands at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, as they aim to replicate their historic World Cup-winning performance of 1992.
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Mohammad Amir’s key players
Amir expressed his views on the selection, highlighting that he believes four deserving players should have been included in Pakistan’s 15-member squad. According to 31-year-old, the all-rounder Imad Wasim and former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed deserved places in the squad. Additionally, he felt that pacer Zaman Khan and the enigmatic spinner Abrar Ahmed should have been part of the final roster rather than being named as reserves.
“Imad Wasim and Sarfaraz Ahmed should have been part of the squad,” Amir was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
“I think Zaman Khan and Abrar Ahmed should have also been part of the 15-member squad instead of reserves. Abrar would have been handy in spinning conditions, meanwhile Zaman bowls well in pressure situations which he showed during the PSL as well. He also did well in his debut match during the Asia Cup and brought Pakistan back in the match,” the Changa-Bangial born cricketer concluded.
Tournament format
The Cricket World Cup follows a round-robin format, with all participating teams facing each other in a total of 45 league games. The top four teams from this league stage will qualify for the semifinals, which are scheduled to take place in Mumbai on November 15 and in Kolkata on November 16.
As the tournament moves ahead, fans and experts will keenly watch Pakistan’s performance and whether their squad can excel without the players Amir believes were deserving of inclusion. The World Cup promises exciting cricketing action and unforgettable moments on the Indian cricketing stage.
