Almost all the national squad players for Pakistan have successfully returned to their training sessions following a recent fever scare, except for the young wicketkeeper-batter, Muhammad Haris. This development has raised eyebrows and concerns within the cricketing community as the team prepares for their upcoming World Cup 2023 match against Australia, scheduled for October 20.
Muhammad Haris, who contracted the fever, has been advised to rest and recover, leaving his participation in the crucial match in doubt.
In stark contrast, the remaining players who had also fallen ill were spotted on the training ground in Bangaluru, putting in their best efforts and showcasing their unwavering commitment to the tournament. They appear to be in excellent spirits as they prepare for the highly anticipated clash with Australia.
This incident follows an unexpected situation where six players from the Pakistan team, including Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Ali Agha, and travelling reserves Zaman Khan and Muhammad Haris, missed an optional training session at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium just a day prior.
Abdullah Shafique, who has been battling a fever, along with Shaheen Afridi and Usama Mir, who previously experienced fever symptoms, have all made a recovery and are now back in action. All players displaying any fever symptoms were promptly examined in accordance with the team’s health protocol. Additionally, every player underwent COVID-19 testing and screening for symptoms related to dengue fever, in adherence to stringent safety measures.
Reassuringly, team sources have confirmed there are no reasons for concern regarding the players’ health. Pakistan, despite their challenges, have secured two wins in three matches thus far in the tournament. Their sole defeat came against arch-rivals India in a highly anticipated match.
Looking ahead, Pakistan’s schedule includes a series of crucial matches:
- October 20 – vs Australia in Bengaluru
- October 23 – vs Afghanistan in Chennai
- October 27 – vs South Africa in Chennai
- October 31 – vs Bangladesh in Kolkata
- November 4 – vs New Zealand in Bengaluru (Day match)
- November 11 – vs England in Kolkata
Matches are scheduled to start at 10:00 am Pakistan Standard Time (PST) for day matches, while all other fixtures will be day-night encounters commencing at 01:30 pm (PST). In the event that Pakistan qualifies for the semi-finals, these matches will be held in Kolkata.
In a noteworthy scenario, if India qualifies for the semi-finals and faces Pakistan, they will also compete in Kolkata.
The Pakistan squad for the ICC World Cup 2023 is as follows:
- Babar Azam (c)
- Abdullah Shafique
- Fakhar Zaman
- Imam-ul-Haq
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
- Shadab Khan
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Usama Mir
- Haris Rauf
- M Wasim Jnr
- Hasan Ali
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Saud Shakeel
- Salman Ali Agha
Travelling reserves:
- Mohammad Haris
- Abrar Ahmed
- Zaman Khan
The cricketing world is now eagerly anticipating the World Cup 2023 clash between Pakistan and Australia, wondering if the resilient Pakistan team can overcome their recent challenges and make a statement in this prestigious tournament.
