Counting hours are now left for Asia Cup 2023 to begin. The first match of the tournament will be played on Wednesday (August 30) between hosts Pakistan and Nepal. Both the teams will face each other at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Pakistan announced their playing eleven for this match on Tuesday night. Pakistan has left out batsman Saeed Shakeel and bowler Usama Mir in the playing eleven.
Pakistan will go into the opening match of the Asia Cup with its lethal pace trio – Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah. Shahin took four wickets while Rauf took five wickets in the two ODIs against Afghanistan. Along with this, Naseem took two wickets. Naseem scored 10 runs in the second ODI to give Pakistan a thrilling win. Pakistan defeated Afghanistan in the three-match series to claim the crown of number one ODI team.
Pakistan’s playing XI for match against Nepal: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf.
Babar Azam’s pain over hybrid model in Asia Cup 2023, on crowning number one
Let us tell that Nepal team is participating in Asia Cup for the first time. Pakistan captain Babar Azam has said that he will not take the rival team lightly. Babar said in a press conference before the match against Nepal that we will try to maintain the winning streak in Sri Lanka like the series against Afghanistan. Babar said that the current Pakistan squad is in its best form but there is still time to make changes if needed before the 2023 World Cup.
Pakistan Squad for Asia Cup 2023: Babar Azam (capt), Abdullah Shafiq, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr. , Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Saeed Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir (Travelling Reserve).
Nepal Squad for Asia Cup 2023: Rohit Paudel (capt), Kushal Bhurtel, Asif Sheikh, Bhim Sharkey, Kushal Malla, Arif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Arey, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Pratish GC, Mausam Dhakal, Sandeep Jora, Kishore . Mahto, Arjun Saeed.