Cricket has been included in the 19th edition of the Asian Games, and Pakistan has been granted direct entry into the quarter-final round, which will commence on October 3rd.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officially announced the squad for the Asian Games 2023 on Thursday, August 24th. Leading the 15-member team is the talented young all-rounder, Qasim Akram, who has shown immense potential in his cricket career. The team comprises several international stars, making it a formidable force for the Hangzhou Games 2023, set to commence on September 19th.
Cricket has been included in the 19th edition of the Asian Games, and Pakistan has been granted direct entry into the quarter-final round, which will commence on October 3rd. Due to the senior team’s involvement in the Asia Cup and ICC World Cup 2023, the PCB has decided to field a second-string side for the men’s T20I cricket event in the Asian Games.
Qasim Akram, a 20-year-old batting all-rounder, has already showcased his leadership skills by captaining Pakistan in the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup 2022. He also played a crucial role in Pakistan’s recent success in the ACC Emerging Teams Cup 2023. Qasim’s outstanding performance in domestic cricket is well-documented, and he gained recognition for his remarkable achievement of taking six wickets against UAE in the ACC Emerging Teams Cup tournament.
Assisting Qasim as his deputy is Omair Bin Yousuf, who will provide valuable support in leading the strong 15-member squad. This squad boasts the inclusion of eight cricketers with international experience, namely Asif Ali, Khusdil Shah, Haider Ali, Shahnazwaz Dahani, and Mohammad Hasnain. Collectively, these players have made an impressive 150 T20I appearances for Pakistan.
Pakistan’s men’s team won the bronze medal during the Asian Games 2010 in Guangzhou, while the women’s team achieved gold in both 2010 and 2014. However, both teams are expected to encounter formidable competition from the Indian cricket teams, who are participating in the Asian Games for the first time in their history.
Pakistan Squad: Qasim Akram (c), Omair Bin Yousuf (vc), Aamir Jamal, Arafat Minhas, Arshad Iqbal, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Mirza Tahir Baig, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Akhlaq (wk), Rohail Nazir, Shahnawaz Dahani, Sufiyan Muqeem and Usman Qadir
Non-travelling reserves: Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Muhammad Irfan Khan Niazi and Mubasir Khan
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