Pakistan's 15-player squad for ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 which is going to held in India.

 Pakistan has announced its 15-player squad for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023, which will be held in India from February 9 to March 26. The squad, led by captain Babar Azam, features a mix of experienced and young players, who will aim to end Pakistan's 30-year drought of winning the coveted trophy.

The squad was finalized by chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq after a meeting with the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf, who also reviewed the team's performance in the Asia Cup 2023 with the coaching staff and former captains Misbah ul Haq and Mohammad Hafeez. The squad announcement came amid speculations of disagreements among the selectors and the management over some players' inclusion or exclusion.

The notable omissions from the squad are pacer Naseem Shah, who is sidelined due to a shoulder injury, and middle-order batsman Sohaib Maqsood, who withdrew from the tournament due to personal reasons. They are replaced by bowling all-rounder Hasan Ali and veteran batsman Shoaib Malik, respectively. Hasan Ali, who was part of Pakistan's Champions Trophy-winning squad in 2017, has made a remarkable comeback after recovering from a back injury that kept him out of action for more than a year. He was the leading wicket-taker in the Pakistan Super League 2023 with 23 wickets in 12 matches for Islamabad United. Shoaib Malik, who has played in six World Cups since 1999, brings a wealth of experience and stability to the middle order. He has scored 2,335 runs in 116 T20Is at an average of 31.13 and a strike rate of 124.20.

The squad also includes three uncapped players: Abdullah Shafique, Salman Ali Agha, and Usama Mir. Abdullah Shafique is a 22-year-old opening batsman who impressed with his consistent performances in domestic cricket. He scored 358 runs in 10 matches at an average of 44.75 and a strike rate of 133.58 for Central Punjab in the National T20 Cup 2023. Salman Ali Agha is a 28-year-old middle-order batsman who can also bowl medium pace. He scored 266 runs in nine matches at an average of 38.00 and a strike rate of 140.10 for Southern Punjab in the same tournament. Usama Mir is a 25-year-old leg-spinner who has been on the radar of the selectors for a long time. He has taken 49 wickets in 46 T20 matches at an average of 22.08 and an economy rate of 7.15.

The rest of the squad consists of familiar faces who have been regular members of the T20I team in recent times. Vice-captain Shadab Khan is the lead spinner and a handy lower-order batsman. He has taken 59 wickets in 50 T20Is at an average of 22.54 and an economy rate of 7.69. He also scored a match-winning half-century against South Africa in the third T20I earlier this year. Mohammad Rizwan is the first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman and one of the most consistent performers for Pakistan across formats. He has scored 1,038 runs in 37 T20Is at an average of 43.25 and a strike rate of 128.46. He also became the second Pakistani batsman after Babar Azam to score four T20I centuries.

Babar Azam, who is ranked as the No.1 T20I batsman in the world, will lead the batting unit with his class and elegance. He has scored 2,132 runs in 54 T20Is at an average of 47.37 and a strike rate of 130.30. He also holds the record for scoring the most runs in a single edition of the PSL with 554 runs in 11 matches for Karachi Kings in 2020. Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, and Asif Ali are the other specialist batsmen in the squad, who can provide firepower and flexibility to the top order. Fakhar Zaman has scored 1,039 runs in 45 T20Is at an average of 24.02 and a strike rate of 136.28. He also scored two half-centuries against South Africa in the recent T20I series. Imam-ul-Haq has scored 452 runs in 24 T20Is at an average of 21.52 and a strike rate of 119.78. He also scored a century against Zimbabwe in the second ODI earlier this year. Asif Ali has scored 483 runs in 29 T20Is at an average of 21.95 and a strike rate of 157.14. He is known for his explosive hitting and ability to finish games in the death overs.

The pace attack is spearheaded by Shaheen Afridi, who is ranked as the No.2 T20I bowler in the world. He has taken 35 wickets in 23 T20Is at an average of 19.85 and an economy rate of 8.12. He also took a five-wicket haul against West Indies in the first T20I earlier this year. Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Nawaz are the other fast bowlers in the squad, who can provide variety and depth to the bowling unit. Mohammad Hasnain has taken 21 wickets in 16 T20Is at an average of 21.76 and an economy rate of 8.68. He also took four wickets against Zimbabwe in the first T20I earlier this year. Haris Rauf has taken 18 wickets in 14 T20Is at an average of 26.72 and an economy rate of 8.92. He also took three wickets against South Africa in the second T20I earlier this year. Mohammad Nawaz has taken 25 wickets in 35 T20Is at an average of 25.88 and an economy rate of 6.86. He also scored a crucial unbeaten 25 off 21 balls against South Africa in the fourth T20I earlier this year.

The squad also has two spinners, besides Shadab Khan, who can exploit the spin-friendly conditions in India. Imad Wasim and Zahid Mahmood are the two spin options, who can also contribute with the bat. Imad Wasim has taken 49 wickets in 54 T20Is at an average of 24.08 and an economy rate of 5.94. He also scored a quick-fire 19 off 11 balls against South Africa in the first T20I earlier this year. Zahid Mahmood is a leg-spinner who made his T20I debut against South Africa earlier this year. He has taken six wickets in four T20Is at an average of 16.50 and an economy rate of 7.25.

The squad is coached by former Pakistan captain Younis Khan, who was appointed as the head coach in January this year after Misbah ul Haq stepped down from the role due to personal reasons. Younis Khan has expressed confidence in his squad and said that they have the potential to win the World Cup.

Pakistan is placed in Group B along with Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, Afghanistan, and two qualifiers from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2023, which will be held in Oman from January 17 to February 2. Pakistan will play its first match against West Indies on February 11 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

This is the full squad of Pakistan for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023:

Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Asif Ali, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Nawaz, Zahid Mahmood, Abdullah Shafique, Salman Ali Agha and Usama Mir.