Tag: ICC World Cup 2023

Heavy and persistent rain in Guwahati abandoned the ICC World Cup 2023 warm-up fixture between India and holders England.

Hosts India, squaring off against defending champions England, won the toss and opted to bat first at the Barsapara Stadium, Guwahati.

However, before the action could begin, dark clouds began to downpour in Guwahati.

The cut-off time for the match was 7:30 PM (IST) but the officials called it off earlier than that as the rain returned 10 minutes before the scheduled start of play, which turned into thunderstorms and didn’t relent.

India are entering the ICC World Cup 2023 with momentum in their favour as Rohit Sharma’s men recently won the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023 and a three-match ODI series against Australia at home.

England, on the other hand, are fresh from their victories against Ireland and New Zealand. Furthermore, the holders got a major boost ahead of their title defence with the return of their dynamic all-rounder Ben Stokes, who recently smashed the highest individual ODI score for the nation.

Notably, Stokes played a pivotal role in England’s 2019 World Cup glory. His sensational 84-run knock in the final lifted England to force the match to the Super Over.

For the unversed, the warm-up matches do not have an ODI status since the competing teams have the luxury to utilize all 15 members of their squad.

Squads:

England: Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (c & wk), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, Reece Topley

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah

Meanwhile, another ICC World Cup 2023 warm-up fixture between Australia and Netherlands in Thiruvananthapuram was also delayed to due to heavy rainfall.

READ: New Zealand thump Pakistan in ICC World Cup 2023 warm-up match

The International Cricket Council on Friday, unveiled a star-studded commentary panel for the ICC World Cup 2023, scheduled to commence on October 5.

The World Cup commentary panel comprises renowned voices cricket voices including the World Cup-winning captains Ricky Ponting and Eoin Morgan while Pakistan’s Ramiz Raja and Waqar Younis were also named in the panel.

“ICC.tv’s coverage of the event will include a pre-match show, an innings interval programme and a post-match wrap-up. Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting and former England skipper Eoin Morgan will join the coverage,” ICC stated in a press release.

“They will be supported by other World Cup winners Shane Watson, Lisa Sthalekar, Ramiz Raja, Ravi Shastri, Aaron Finch, Sunil Gavaskar and Matthew Hayden.

“The commentary box will mark the return of Nasser Hussain, Ian Smith and Ian Bishop, who called the memorable 2019 World Cup final between England and New Zealand.

“More international icons and former captains including Waqar Younis, Shaun Pollock, Anjum Chopra and Michael Atherton will also be calling the action live from the commentary box.

“They will be joined in on the fun by former international stars like Simon Doull, Mpumelelo Mbangwa, Sanjay Manjrekar, Katey Martin, Dinesh Karthik, Dirk Nannes, Samuel Badree, Athar Ali Khan and Russel Arnold.

“The panel will be rounded off some of the leading broadcasters in the world who have had their fair share of iconic calls, including Harsha Bhogle, Kass Naidoo, Mark Nicholas, Natalie Germanos, Mark Howard and Ian Ward.”

A total of 10 teams will participate in the ICC World Cup 2023 – featuring 45 matches – and compete for the prestigious silverware across 10 venues from October 5 to November 19.

Like the previous edition, the ICC World Cup 2023 will also be played in a round-robin format – each team playing nine matches with the rest of the opponents.

The top four teams by the end of the group stage will qualify for the semi-finals, scheduled to be held in Mumbai on November 15 and in Kolkata on November 16.

Whereas, the final of the tournament will take place on November 19 at the grand Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Notably, all three knockout matches of the ICC World Cup 2023 will have a reserve day.

READ: Zaka Ashraf lauds India for warm reception of Pakistan squad

Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee, Zaka Ashraf, stated that the fantastic reception of the Pakistan team in India for the ICC World Cup 2023 proves how much love the people of both countries have for each other’s players.

This love was evident by the reception arranged at the Hyderabad airport. Zaka Ashraf personally congratulated the Indians over arranging a reception of this kind.

He mentioned that whenever India and Pakistan step onto the cricket field, they emerge as traditional rivals but not as enemies.

Zaka Ashraf expressed his hope that throughout the entire World Cup, Pakistan cricketers would receive the same warmth, and Indian fans would get to see the best cricket from Pakistan players.

He reflected how historically whenever the Pakistan men’s cricket team has visited India, they have received a warm and cordial reception, just as Indian teams have been welcomed in Pakistan.

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

This is because cricket is a sport that has always played a bridging role between the two nations, and cricketers from both countries have remained popular in and well-loved by fans in both India and Pakistan.

Chairman Management Committee also emphasised that cricket between Pakistan and India has always been the center of global attention which is why cricket between the two countries is considered more significant than the other contests in this sport.

He expressed his desire for the restoration of bilateral cricketing relations between the two countries, allowing millions of cricket fans from both nations the opportunity to watch these players perform live.

He concluded by expressing his hope that the Indian cricket team would also visit Pakistan soon, enabling Pakistan to reciprocate the warmth and love shown by India to the Pakistan cricket team.

READ: Rizwan-inspired Pakistan set New Zealand chase 346 in ICC World Cup 2023 warm-up

HYDERABAD: Rachin Ravindra’s 97, followed by half-centuries from returning Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman steered New Zealand to thrash Pakistan by five wickets in the warm-up fixture of the ICC World Cup 2023.

New Zealand batters put on a scintillating show as they lifted their side to chase down a mammoth 346 against Pakistan for the loss of five wickets and 38 balls to spare.

The Blackcaps had a dismal start to their run chase as Devon Conway succumbed to a golden duck in the second over with just four runs on the board.

Promoted to bat as an opener, Rachin Ravindra, was then joined by returning Kane Williamson and they launched an astounding recovery with both scoring half-centuries.

Williamson, however, opted not to extend his comeback knock and retired out after scoring a well-crafted 54 off 50 balls, laced with eight boundaries when New Zealand were cruising at 141/1 in 18 overs.

Coming out to bat at number four, Daryl Mitchell, kept New Zealand in command as he stitched a vital 42-run partnership with Ravindra, who had a frustrating end to his brilliant knock.

Ravindra fell just three shy of his century, scoring 97 off 72 deliveries, hitting 16 boundaries and a six.

Usama Mir then caused a stir in New Zealand’s run chase as he removed captain Tom Latham (18) and Glenn Phillips (3).

However, Mitchell and Mark Chapman got their side back on track with a sensible partnership, which ended when the former retired out after scoring a half-century.

Mitchell remained a notable run-getter for New Zealand with a 57-ball 59.

Chapman then took the reigns of the pursuit and guided New Zealand to a statement victory in the 44th over, courtesy of a quickfire 65 in 41 balls, which included six boundaries and three sixes.

For Pakistan, Usama Mir bagged two wickets while Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr and Salman Ali Agha had a wicket apiece to their names.

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Opting to bat first, Pakistan posted a massive total on the board, at the back of a sensational century by Mohammad Rizwan, followed by skipper Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel’s half-centuries.

Pakistan, however, got off to a contrasting start to their innings as they lost both their openers Imam-ul-Haq (1) and Abdullah Shafique (14) inside 12 overs with just 46 runs on the board.

Following the early slump, Pakistan captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan anchored the innings as the pair notched up a brilliant 114-run stand.

Babar majorly dominated the third-wicket partnership, scoring at a brisk rate before Mitchell Santner finally got rid of the Pakistan captain in the 30th over.

Babar fell 20 short of his century as he fell for an 84-ball 80 which included eight boundaries and two sixes.

Rizwan, however, held his ground firm and soon put together another vital partnership for Pakistan with Saud Shakeel.

The pair added 78 runs to the total before Rizwan finally retired out in the 40th over after amassing his century.

He remained the top-scorer for Pakistan with a magnificent 103-run knock in just 94 deliveries, hitting nine boundaries and two sixes.

Saud Shakeel then stood up for his team after Rizwan’s departure and bolstered Pakistan’s total at the backend with a quickfire knock.

He smashed five boundaries and four sixes on his way to a 53-ball 75.

Besides Saud, Salman Ali Agha (33* off 23) and Shadab Khan (16 off 11) added vital runs for Pakistan, who finished at a mammoth 345/5 in their first ICC World Cup 2023 warm-up match against New Zealand.

Mitchell Santner was the pick amongst the bowlers for New Zealand, taking two wickets, while Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry and James Neesham made one scalp apiece.

READ: Sri Lanka set Bangladesh to chase 264 in ICC World Cup 2023 warm-up fixture

GUWAHATI: Bangladesh’s top-three Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored brilliant half-centuries to propel their side to a convincing seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the warm-up fixture of the ICC World Cup 2023.

Set to chase a modest 264, Bangladesh comfortably amassed the total for the loss of just three wickets with 42 balls to spare.

Bangladesh openers Hasan and Das scripted a solid start to the pursuit as the pair notched up a magnificent 131-run partnership.

The opening duo had Bangladesh in complete command before Dushan Hemantha provided a much-needed breakthrough to Sri Lanka by dismissing Das.

Litton Das played a brisk 61-run knock in 56 deliveries, laced with 10 boundaries.

Hasan once again found subtle support at the other end in the form of Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

Hasan and Miraz added 52 runs for the second wicket before the former finally perished in the 28th over.

The opening batter remained the top-scorer for Bangladesh with an 88-ball 84 which featured 10 boundaries and two sixes.

Bangladesh then endured another hit to their pursuit as Towhid Hridoy perished for a golden duck in the next over.

Following back-to-back blows, wicketkeeper batter Mushfiqur Rahim joined Miraz at the crease and put together an unbeaten 76-run partnership to steer Bangladesh to a comfortable victory.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored an unbeaten 67 off 64 deliveries with the help of five boundaries and two sixes while Rahim scored 35 not out in 43 balls.

For Sri Lanka, Lahiru Kumara, Dunith Wellalage and Dushan Hemantha made one scalp each.

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka displayed a decent performance with their bat in their first warm-up fixture of the World Cup with Nissanka and de Silva leading the charge, scoring a half-century each.

Nissanka smashed eight boundaries and a six on his way to top score for Sri Lanka with a 64-ball 68.

Dhananjaya de Silva, on the other hand, was equally impressive with his cautious 55 which came off 79 deliveries.

The right-handed batter smashed two boundaries and a six amid his important knock.

His knock also proved to be a stabilizer for Sri Lanka, who were losing wickets at regular intervals despite a solid start to their innings.

Besides Nissanka and de Silva, opening batter Kusal Perera was the notable run-getter for Sri Lanka, with a 24-ball 34 which featured six boundaries, followed by Kusal Mendis (22).

Mahedi Hasan led the bowling attack for Bangladesh with splendid figures of 3/36 in his nine overs, followed by Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed and Mehidy Hasan Miraz taking one wicket apiece.

Meanwhile, the second warm-up match of the World Cup between South Africa and Afghanistan was abandoned due to persistent rain in Thiruvananthapuram.

Both South Africa and Afghanistan missed an opportunity to test their bowling and batting depth as their first warm-up match, heading to the ICC World Cup 2023 was washed out without a ball bowled.

READ: Pakistan set New Zealand chase 346 in ICC World Cup 2023 warm-up

HYDERABAD: Rachin Ravindra’s 97, followed by half-centuries from returning Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman steered New Zealand to thrash Pakistan by five wickets in the warm-up fixture of the ICC World Cup 2023.

NZ 346/5 (43.4 Overs)

Hasan continues

NZ 328/5 (43 Overs)

Wasim Jr replaces Nawaz

NZ 322/4 (42 Overs)

Hasan replaces Agha

NZ 310/4 (41 Overs)

Nawaz replaces Hasan

NZ 294/4 (40 Overs)

Agha continues

NZ 282/4 (39 Overs)

Hasan continues

NZ 270/4 (38 Overs)

Agha comes back

NZ 266/4 (37 Overs)

Hasan returns

NZ 260/4 (36 Overs)

Usama continues

NZ 248/4 (35 Overs)

Wasim Jr bowls again

NZ 239/4 (34 Overs)

Usama bowls

NZ 235/4 (33 Overs)

Wasim Jr continues

NZ 229/4 (32 Overs)

Usama continues to bowl

NZ 224/4 (31 Overs)

Wasim Jr returns

NZ 220/4 (30 Overs)

Usama bowls his seventh

NZ 217/3 (29 Overs)

Nawaz again

NZ 215/3 (28 Overs)

Usama continues

NZ 212/2 (27 Overs)

Nawaz continues

NZ 204/2 (26 Overs)

Usama replaces Agha

NZ 198/2 (25 Overs)

Nawaz again

NZ 194/2 (24 Overs)

Agha bowls his sixth

NZ 183/1 (23 Overs)

Nawaz bowls

NZ 167/1 (22 Overs)

Agha continues

NZ 159/1 (21 Overs)

Nawaz continues

NZ 153/1 (20 Overs)

Agha replaces Wasim Jr

NZ 144/1 (19 Overs)

Mohammad Nawaz comes into the attack

NZ 141/1 (18 Overs)

Wasim Jr bowls again

NZ 126/1 (17 Overs)

Usama continues

NZ 119/1 (16 Overs)

Wasim Jr continues

NZ 115/1 (15 Overs)

Usama bowls his third

NZ 106/1 (14 Overs)

Mohammad Wasim Jr comes into the attack

NZ 93/1 (13 Overs)

Usama continues

NZ 85/1 (12 Overs)

Agha bowls his third

NZ 77/1 (11 Overs)

Usama Mir into the attack

NZ 65/1 (10 Overs)

Agha continues

NZ 62/1 (9 Overs)

Hasan continues

NZ 57/1 (8 Overs)

Salman Ali Agha comes into the attack

NZ 50/1 (7 Overs)

Haris bowls his fourth

NZ 36/1 (6 Overs)

Hasan again

NZ 26/1 (5 Overs)

Haris continues

NZ 17/1 (4 Overs)

Hasan continues

NZ 15/1 (3 Overs)

Haris continues

NZ 5/1 (2 Overs)

1.1: It was a length ball on Conway’s pads, which he went pushing at. But he ended up playing aerial and gave Hasan a wicket straight up.

Hasan Ali to bowl from the other end

NZ 4/0 (1 Over)

Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway come out to open for New Zealand. Haris Rauf to bowl the first over.

PAKISTAN vs NEW ZEALAND (2nd INNINGS)

Wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan scored 94-ball 103 to help Pakistan set a massive 346-run target to New Zealand in the warm-up match of ICC World Cup 2023, here on Friday.

PAK 345/5 (50 Overs)

Ferguson to bowl the last over

PAK 338/4 (49 Overs)

Mitchell continues

PAK 323/4 (48 Overs)

Neesham replaces Ferguson

PAK 313/3 (47 Overs)

Mitchell returns

PAK 302/3 (46 Overs)

Lockie Ferguson returns

PAK 295/3 (45 Overs)

Neesham returns

PAK 278/3 (44 Overs)

Ish Sodhi continues to bowl

PAK 272/3 (43 Overs)

Rachin Ravindra continues

PAK 257/3 (42 Overs)

Ish Sodhi replaces Mitchell

PAK 248/3 (41 Overs)

Rachin Ravindra returns to bowl

PAK 238/3 (40 Overs)

Mitchell comes back into the attack

PAK 227/3 (39 Overs)

Lockie Ferguson continues

PAK 215/3 (38 Overs)

Phillips returns to the attack

PAK 203/3 (37 Overs)

Lockie Ferguson comes into the attack

PAK 195/3 (36 Overs)

Santner continues

PAK 188/3 (35 Overs)

Neesham continues

PAK 180/3 (34 Overs)

Santner continues

PAK 177/3 (33 Overs)

Neesham comes back into the attack

PAK 171/3 (32 Overs)

Santner continues

PAK 167/3 (31 Overs)

Glenn Phillips continues

PAK 162/3 (30 Overs)

29.4: Babar Azam tries to boom a slower one but doesn’t get all of it and holes out to Mitchell

Santner comes into the attack

PAK 152/2 (29 Overs)

Glenn Phillips to continue

PAK 147/2 (28 Overs)

Daryl Mitchell continues

PAK 144/2 (27 Overs)

Glenn Phillips to continue

PAK 138/2 (26 Overs)

Daryl Mitchell continues

PAK 131/2 (25 Overs)

Glenn Phillips returns to bowl

PAK 118/2 (24 Overs)

Daryl Mitchell continues

PAK 115/2 (23 Overs)

Ravindra continues to bowl from the other end

PAK 106/2 (22 Overs)

Daryl Mitchell replaces Ish Sodhi

PAK 99/2 (21 Overs)

Rachin Ravindra continues

PAK 90/2 (20 Overs)

Ish Sodhi continues

PAK 81/2 (19 Overs)

Rachin Ravindra continues

Action resumes after a brief rain interruption

Rain interrupts play

PAK 80/2 (18 Overs)

Ish Sodhi continues

PAK 76/2 (17 Overs)

Rachin Ravindra continues

PAK 71/2 (16 Overs)

Ish Sodhi continues

PAK 64/2 (15 Overs)

Rachin Ravindra continues to bowl

PAK 55/2 (14 Overs)

Ish Sodhi replaces Mitchell Santner

PAK 53/2 (13 Overs)

Rachin Ravindra replaces James Neesham

PAK 51/2 (12 Overs)

Santner continues to bowl

11.2: Abdullah Shafique miles down the pitch and Tom Latham just brushed the bail on middle and off stumps

PAK 45/1 (11 Overs)

Neesham continues

PAK 33/1 (10 Overs)

Santner continues to bowl from the other end

PAK 31/1 (9 Overs)

Neesham continues

PAK 26/1 (8 Overs)

Santner continues

PAK 24/1 (7 Overs)

Neesham replaces Henry

PAK 23/1 (6 Overs)

Santner replaces Phillips

PAK 18/1 (5 Overs)

Matt Henry continues to bowl

PAK 12/1 (4 Overs)

Glenn Phillips continues

PAK 6/1 (3 Overs)

2.4: Imam-ul-Haq looked to slash the ball on the sixth stump, but the ballgot a little tickle, and ended in the hands of wicketkeeper

Matt Henry continues to bowl

PAK 5/0 (2 Overs)

Glenn Phillips to bowl from the other end

PAK 2/0 (1 Over)

Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq come out to open the innings. Matt Henry to bowl the first over.

PAKISTAN vs NEW ZEALAND (1st INNINGS)

HYDERABAD: Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first against New Zealand in the warm-up match of ICC World Cup 2023, here on Friday.

PLAYING LINE-UPS

Pakistan

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.

New Zealand

Tom Latham (c), Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young

READ: Kane Williamson to miss ICC World Cup 2023 fixture against England

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is set to miss the curtain-raiser of the ICC World Cup 2023 against England in Ahmedabad on October 5 owing to a recovering knee injury.

Williamson will play as a specialist batter in New Zealand’s first warm-up match against Pakistan in Hyderabad. Though, he is expected to bat and field in the second warm-up game against South Africa in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday.

New Zealand head coach Gary Stead gave an update about Kane Williamson’s road to recovery.

“Right from the start we’ve taken a long-term view on Kane’s return to play,” New Zealand’s head coach Gary Stead said. “His recovery is tracking well and it’s now a matter of making sure he can cope with the rigours and intensity of international cricket. We’ll continue to take a day by day approach to Kane’s rehabilitation and certainly won’t be putting any pressure on him to return before he is ready.”

The 33-year-old batter tore the cruciate ligament in his right knee playing for Indian Premier League side Gujarat Titans in April, which looked to have scuppered his chances of making the showpiece tournament.

Wicketkeeper batter Tom Latham will lead New Zealand in two warm-up matches as well as the opening match against England.

New Zealand ICC World Cup 2023 squad

Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young

READ: La Liga: Atletico Madrid rise to fifth spot after thumping Osasuna

HYDERABAD: Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first against New Zealand in the warm-up match of ICC World Cup 2023, here on Friday.

PLAYING LINE-UPS

Pakistan

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.

New Zealand

Tom Latham (c), Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young

READ: India make one change in ICC World Cup 2023 squad

Hosts India on Thursday, made a forced change to their already-announced squad for the ICC World Cup 2023 as Ravichandran Ashwin replaced Axar Patel.

Left-arm spinner Axar Patel, who suffered a strain to his left quadriceps amid India’s ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023 fixture against Bangladesh, failed to recuperate in time for the ICC World Cup 2023.

The all-rounder was consequently replaced by experienced Ravichandran Ashwin for the mega event.

Notably, Ashwin made a timely comeback to ODI cricket in the recently concluded home series against Australia, taking four wickets in two matches.

Prior to that, the experienced all-rounder last played an ODI in January 2022.

Ravichandran Ashwin will serve as India’s lone specialist off-spinner in their 15-member squad, and one of just two players, along with star batsman Virat Kohli, who featured in India’s World Cup-winning run in 2011.

The rest of the India squad remained the same and their skipper Rohit Sharma emphasized that the group was clear about their Final 15 and any changes to that will not disturb their approach.

“When we talk about the 15 we are very clear what we want,” India captain Rohit Sharma said Wednesday after the 2-1 series victory over Australia.

“We are not confused, we know where we are headed as a team.

“It’s a team sport and we want everyone to come and play their part – that’s how we win championships. It’s about looking after the body and try and stay fresh for the next one and half months.”

India’s Squad for ICC World Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma (capt), Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav.

READ: Labuschagne replaces Agar as Australia confirm ICC World Cup 2023 squad

Right-arm batter Marnus Labuschagne replaced Ashton Agar in Australia’s final squad for the ICC World Cup 2023, commencing on October 5.

According to the details, Agar failed to recover from a calf injury, which kept him out of the T20I series against South Africa.

His last appearance for Australia, however, came earlier this month when he featured in the five-match ODI series against South Africa.

Consequently, Marnus Labuschagne, who was initially left out of Australia’s squad, replaced Ashton Agar for the ICC World Cup 2023.

Agar’s exclusion meant Australia will enter the mega event with just one specialist spinner Adam Zampa while veteran all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, would likely be given a role to strengthen their spin bowling department.

Australia finalized their squad on Thursday for the ICC World Cup 2023, delaying this alteration until the very last minute.

For the unversed, all the 10 participating teams were bound to submit their final squad to the International Cricket Council (ICC) by September 28 and any tweaks to that after the cut-off date needed approval from the apex cricket body.

Meanwhile, Australia named injured Travis Head in their final ICC World Cup 2023 squad, who is anticipated to make a mid-tournament return.

Head fractured his hand during Australia’s 164-run thrashing at the hands of South Africa in the fourth ODI of the recently-held five-match series.

The five-time champions Australia will take on Netherlands on September 30 and Pakistan on October 3 in their warm-up fixtures before starting their World Cup campaign against hosts India on October 8 in Chennai.

Australia’s squad for the ICC World Cup 2023: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.

READ: Pakistan squad starts training in India ahead of ICC World Cup 2023