Misbah, Wasim, Malik discuss possibility of increasing players in World Cup squads

Former Pakistan cricketers, Wasim Akram, Misbah-ul-Haq and Shoaib Malik, discussed the possibility of increasing players in squads of teams competing in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023.

The discussion began with Akram raising the question of increasing squad members bearing in mind the injuries during the mega event.

“This tournament is almost two months long. There is hot weather as well. 30 degrees in Chennai, for instance, feels like 36. Don’t you think 15-member squads is less for a long 50-over tournament?” Wasim questioned on a local sports channel.

In reply, Malik said that World Cup squads should include minimum of 18 players.

“They should change this rule since it is a long tournament especially considering what happened with New Zealand. ICC should take the initiative of allowing 18 players per team,” responded Malik.

However, Misbah said that injuries should not be the only criteria of increasing squad members since form of players should also be taken into account.

“I think it should be at least 16. It’s not only about injuries, form should also be considered. For example, we can see that Pakistan are struggling in spin department but we have a spinner [Abrar Ahmed] outside who we can’t play,” said Misbah.

It must be noted that injuries have constantly affected the ICC World Cup 2023.

Pacer Kyle Jamieson was included in New Zealand’s World Cup squad as cover for fellow pace bowler Matt Henry earlier today.

Henry awaits the results of a scan on a hamstring injury which he suffered during the match against South Africa yesterday.

New Zealand coach Gary Stead also revealed that cover was needed since fast bowler Lockie Ferguson is also recovering from an Achilles injury.

New Zealand’s captain Kane Williamson (thumb) and all-rounder Mark Chapman (thigh) are also sidelined due to injuries.

Yesterday, Australia’s All-rounder and in-form player Glenn Maxwell was ruled out of the match against the defending World Cup champions after suffering a concussion during a golf incident on Monday.

Sri Lanka have also replaced a total of three members into their 15-player squad since the beginning of the tournament, with Dushmantha Chameera, Chamika Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews having already found a way into the group following the loss of skipper Dasun Shanaka (quad), Lahiru Kumara (thigh) and Matheesha Pathirana (shoulder).

Additionally, Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya will miss matches at the ICC World Cup 2023 against Sri Lanka and South Africa as the 30-year-old continues to recover from an ankle injury he suffered against Bangladesh in Pune on October 19.

Comments

Submit