Big blow to Pakistan ahead of a high-profile ICC World Cup 2023 clash against Australia at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on October 20.
The Pakistan cricket squad is currently grappling with health challenges as they prepare for their upcoming World Cup clash with Australia, scheduled for October 20 in Bengaluru. Alongside their on-field battles, the Men in Green are fighting with viral fever outbreaks within their camp.
The encouraging update is that opener Fakhar Zaman and leg-spinner Usama Mir have made complete recoveries from their previous health issues and are now eligible for selection in the all-important match. Zaman had been wrestling with a knee injury, while Mir had been grappling with fever. This brings a sigh of relief to the team, particularly in light of their recent health setbacks.
Nevertheless, the Pakistan camp hasn’t been entirely without its challenges. Opener Abdullah Shafique has been battling a fever, and both Shaheen Afridi and Usama Mir had also experienced fever symptoms, but they have since bounced back to full health. The team’s health protocols ensured that players displaying any fever-related symptoms were promptly assessed.
In light of these health concerns, the Pakistan cricket team has implemented comprehensive precautions. COVID-19 tests were administered to all players, and they underwent screenings for potential dengue fever symptoms. Despite these setbacks, current reports suggest that there is no cause for significant concern regarding the overall well-being of the players.
Pakistan has secured victories in two of their matches and one defeat, with Australia recently claiming their first win in the tournament against Sri Lanka. Prior to this victory, Australia had faced losses against India and South Africa. It’s worth noting that Pakistan also suffered a loss in their recent match against their arch-rivals, India.
Pakistan 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.
Australia squad
Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.
