Pakistan’s opening batsman, Abdullah Shafique, is dealing with a fever ahead of the national team’s match against Australia on October 20. Additionally, fast bowler Shaheen Afridi and leg-spinner Usama Mir had fever, but they have since recovered.
The team followed medical protocols, including COVID-19 and dengue fever tests, to ensure the players’ health and safety. Fortunately, there is no significant concern about their well-being.
Abdullah Shafique has gained a reputation for making impressive debuts. Notably, he became the first Pakistani batsman to score a century on his World Cup debut on October 11 in a remarkable chase against Sri Lanka. He stepped in to replace the out-of-form Fakhar Zaman and, along with Mohammad Rizwan, played a key role in Pakistan’s successful pursuit of a 345-run target, marking the highest successful run chase in World Cup history.
Shafique’s talent has been evident since his early cricketing days, with a century on his domestic Grade-II debut and another century on his first-class debut in 2019. He achieved a similar feat in Twenty20 cricket a year later, making him only the second batsman in the world to score a century on their first-class and T20 debuts, along with India’s Shivam Bhambri.
Despite initial struggles in T20 cricket, Shafique persevered and eventually made a name for himself in Test matches, with centuries against Australia and England, including a double ton against Sri Lanka in July of the same year.
Interestingly, just a month before the World Cup, Shafique wasn’t even part of the squad. However, due to concerns about Fakhar Zaman’s poor form, the Pakistan team management included him as a backup. His journey in cricket has been marked by both challenges and remarkable achievements, making him a notable figure in Pakistan’s cricketing landscape.
Pakistan squad for ICC World Cup 2023
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.
Traveling reserves: Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed, Zaman Khan
