For Pakistan’s upcoming match against Australia in the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023, there is a possibility of the team including leg-spinner Usama Mir in the playing XI.
Usama Mir had previously contracted a viral infection before the India match but has now fully recovered and participated in training sessions.
The decision to include him will depend on the nature of the pitch in Bengaluru, where the match will take place. The Bengaluru pitch is known for being batting-friendly, and it often provides support to spinners.
Therefore, including Usama as a spinner in the team is favorable, but it ultimately depends on the pitch conditions.
Notably, most of the players who had previously fallen ill have recovered from their infections. Fakhar Zaman has a knee issue, but it is not considered a serious problem, and he has been actively participating in training and other routines.
Currently, Pakistan holds the fourth position in the ICC Men’s World Cup points table, having earned four points with a net run rate of -0.137 after playing three matches.
The format of the tournament’s first stage is round-robin, where all ten teams play against each other once for a total of 45 matches. The top four teams at the end of this stage will qualify for the semifinals.
Pakistan’s run rate was affected by their loss to arch-rivals India in Ahmedabad, making their upcoming matches crucial for advancing to the knockout stage.
