3 star Pakistan player who might be left out of the World Cup squad

The Pakistan Cricket Board, on Monday, appointed former skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq as the new chief selector of the team. In his second term in office, Inzamam will have to make some serious and important decisions ahead of the upcoming ODI World Cup. 

As the Shehbaz Sharif government has approved the participation of the Babar Azam-led team, Pakistan will look to field their best possible XI. Ahead of their World Cup campaign, they will need to replace some players as they might not be fit in the playing XI. 

Inzamam, who chose the Pakistan squad for the previous World Cup, will now have to make some changes to get that prestigious trophy. So in today’s article, we will discuss the top three Pakistani players who might miss out on the World Cup squad.

3. Haris Sohail

Pakistan cricketer Haris Sohail’s chances of making it to the ODI World Cup squad appear uncertain due to his recent poor performance. Making a comeback to the ODI squad after three years against New Zealand in 2023, Sohail struggled to make an impact, accumulating just 64 runs in 3 innings at an average of 21.32.

His disappointing form continued with the ball too, as he failed to take a wicket with the ball. Given these lackluster contributions, Sohail’s place in the ODI World Cup squad could be jeopardized, considering the team’s need for consistent and reliable performers on the grand stage. It’s worth noting that in the ODI World Cup 2019, Sohail scored two half-centuries in five innings, totaling 198 runs.

2. Shan Masood

Pakistani cricketer Shan Masood faces the risk of missing out on the ODI World Cup squad due to a series of underwhelming performances. In his most recent nine innings, he has managed just one half-century and a total of 163 runs, reflecting a lack of consistent contributions. Despite this lackluster performance, he was given an extended run against New Zealand this year.

In the three-match series, Masood scored just 52 runs and failed to capitalize on the opportunity. At 33 years old, Masood’s struggle to maintain consistency and the emergence of young talents could lead to his exclusion from the World Cup squad, as selectors might opt for younger, more promising players to reinforce the team’s performance and future prospects.

1. Mohammad Nawaz

Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz’s inclusion in the ODI World Cup squad appears uncertain due to his recent lackluster performance. His batting form has been disappointing, managing only 94 runs in his last 10 ODI innings with an average of 11.75. Similarly, his bowling contributions have also been subpar, with only six wickets in his last six innings.

During the New Zealand tour, Nawaz struggled to make an impact, scoring a mere 19 runs across two innings and failing to take any wickets. Considering his recent struggles both with the bat and ball, his place in the World Cup squad might be at risk as Pakistan seeks players in better form and consistency to bolster their chances in the tournament.