The player pool for the 2023 ODI World Cup and Asia Cup has been revealed by Mickey Arthur, the team director for Pakistan. Arthur responded to inquiries from a local Pakistani news television station regarding the choice of players like Imad Wasim, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Amir, Haris Sohail, and Umar Akmal. The team that recently competed at home in an ODI series against New Zealand, according to Arthur, will be the foundation of Pakistan’s teams for the upcoming ODI World Cup and Asia Cup.
On October 15 in Ahmedabad, the ODI World Cup 2023 will include the eagerly awaited India vs. Pakistan match. The difficulties that Arthur’s team will have playing in front of such a large audience, particularly in Ahmedabad, the largest cricket stadium in the world, were also mentioned. Additionally, he emphasized that, no matter the setting, his team is capable of defeating any other team in the globe.
We selected a team that competed against New Zealand. We will choose from that group of players [for the Asia Cup and World Cup]. Despite being on that team, Haris Sohail didn’t participate due of his fitness. The squad we had for the New Zealand series and the group that will go for these tournaments won’t alter much, according to Arthur, who was recently mentioned by Cricket Pakistan in an interview with a local Pakistani channel.
Mickey Arthur highlights importance of providing players with assurance of selection
“We had around 20 players in that series, we just need to cut it to 15. It is not going to differ much because I believe in giving security to players as that will give clarity to them about their roles in the team. I don’t want players playing with an axe over their head or with insecurity about their place,” he further added.
Interestingly, the Asia Cup 2023 is set to be hosted jointly by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, as the Indian team will play all its games outside Pakistan. However, Pakistan are yet to clarify their stand on whether they are willing to come to India to participate in the ODI World Cup 2023.