Imam-ul-Haq was named in Pakistan’s playing XI announced yesterday for the match against Sri Lanka in the Super Fours round of Asia Cup 2023. However, just before the match, captain Babar Azam informed at the toss that Imam is not in the playing XI.
The Pakistan Cricket Board is the official host of Asia Cup 2023, and to ensure that the fans know about which players will be playing in the match, the PCB always informed them about the playing XI well in advance. PCB announced five changes for the playing XI in the match against Sri Lanka from the battle against India.
Fakhar Zaman, who has had a forgettable Asia Cup tournament so far, was dropped from the playing XI for Mohammad Haris. However, Zaman is playing today because Imam-ul-Haq has a back spasm. Here’s what captain Babar Azam said at the toss:
“We are going to bat first. We just want to have run on the board. The pitches are behaving differently in the second innings. Imam has a back spasm so he’s not playing. Fakhar is back.“
Why are Imam-ul-Haq and Saud Shakeel missing from Pakistan’s playing XI?
Imam is not the only player announced in the playing XI yesterday who is missing in the team today. Saud Shakeel, who came in the team for Agha Salman, has also been replaced with Abdullah Shafique. Commenting on Shakeel’s absence, Babar said:
“And Saud Shakeel has a fever so Abdullah Shafique is playing.”
Sri Lanka have also made a couple of changes to their playing XI from the match against the Indian cricket team. Dasun Shanaka informed at the toss that Kusal Janith was in the team, replacing Dimuth Karunaratane, while Pramodh Madushan came in the team for Kasun Rajitha.
