(Image Source: Twitter)
[Saba Sports News] Pakistan unveiled their 15-member squad for the ODI World Cup 2023 on September 22, 2023, with star seamer Naseem Shah ruled out due to injury.
During a press conference, Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq was questioned about the performances of Pakistan spinners Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz. When a journalist compared their stats to Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav, Inzamam humorously responded that he can’t select Kuldeep as he’s from the opposing team.
Inzamam emphasized that the World Cup squad is planned years in advance and cannot be changed abruptly. He expressed confidence in Shadab and Nawaz, despite their recent performances, stating that they have performed well for Pakistan in the past.
While Shadab and Nawaz have relatively modest numbers in recent ODIs, Kuldeep Yadav has been India’s second-highest wicket-taker since 2022, with 43 wickets from 23 innings, boasting an average of 18.93 and an economy rate of 4.70 in the past two years. Kuldeep has been considered India’s trump card for the World Cup 2023 by Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar.