Pakistan Players Battling Viral Infections Ahead of Crucial Clash with Australia in ICC World Cup 2023
In a concerning development, it has been reported that several Pakistan players have been struck by viral infections leading up to their highly anticipated ICC World Cup 2023 match against Australia on October 20th. According to sources from Ary News, Shaheen Afridi, Usama Mir, Abdullah Shafique, and Fakhar Zaman are currently battling these infections. While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not made any official statement regarding the matter, they have denied providing any comments thus far.
If these reports turn out to be true, it could be a major setback for the Pakistan team. Both Shaheen Afridi and Abdullah Shafique are key players and their presence is vital for the team’s success in the tournament going forward. It remains to be seen whether they will be fit to play against Australia or not.
The Pakistan team recently arrived in Bengaluru for their fourth game of the ICC World Cup 2023. Prior to that, they played two games in Hyderabad and then moved on to Ahmedabad for their clash against India. Unfortunately, they suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of their arch-rivals, India, losing by 8 wickets. Their batting performance was disappointing as they were bowled out for just 191 runs, and their bowlers struggled to contain the Indian batsmen.
Despite this setback, Pakistan has managed to win two out of the three games they have played so far in the tournament. They had comfortable victories against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka, where they successfully chased down a massive total of 345 runs, setting a new record for the highest chase in the history of the ICC World Cup 2023.
Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir expressed his disappointment with Pakistan’s performance against India, describing it as subpar. He stated that there is a clear difference between the two teams and that the series between them won’t be competitive if Pakistan continues to play in this manner.
As the Pakistan team prepares for their upcoming match against Australia, it is crucial for them to regroup and address the challenges they faced in their previous game. The availability of key players like Shaheen Afridi and Abdullah Shafique will be instrumental in their efforts to bounce back and put up a strong fight against a formidable Australian side.
The cricketing world will be eagerly watching to see how Pakistan responds to their loss against India and whether they can overcome the obstacles posed by viral infections within the team. With the ICC World Cup 2023 reaching its crucial stages, every match holds significant importance, and Pakistan will be hoping to bounce back strongly in their upcoming clash against Australia.
