Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who is also the head Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Cricket Technical Committee (CTC), shared that they had suggested the team management to keep mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed in the World Cup 2023 squad.
The 25-year-old is part of the squad as one of the three travelling reserves. While talking on a local sports channel, the 49-year-old said teams would have been playing Abrar for one time only since this is not a series.
"Our [cricket committee] viewpoint was to include a mystery spinner especially when you are playing with different teams since it is not a series. Most of them would be playing for the first time," Misbah said.
"So, we suggested keeping Abrar Ahmed in the squad keeping in mind, our spin bowling is not in good form and didn't do well in the Asia Cup," he added.
He continued that it was his and Hafeez’s opinion and a final decision had to be made by team management and captain Babar Azam. “Team management and captain’s decision is more important in this regard,” he added.
Remember, Afghanistan defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in the 22nd game of World Cup 2023.
The national team, with two wins and three defeats, will now play South Africa at the same venue on October 27.
Pakistan’s remaining ICC World Cup 2023 matches
October 27 - vs South Africa in Chennai
October 31 - vs Bangladesh in Kolkata
November 4 - vs New Zealand Bengaluru (Day match)
November 11 - vs England in Kolkata
Pakistan squad for ICC World Cup 2023
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.
Travelling reserves: Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed, Zaman Khan