Cricket World Cup 2023: Pakistan's Squad, Match Schedule, Top Performers

The Pakistan cricket team is back in the Indian shores after seven years as the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 beckons. Pakistan open their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on Friday, before facing arch-rivals India in Ahmedabad on October 14. However, their preparations for the World Cup haven't been ideal as the Babar Azam-led side failed to reach the Asia Cup final last month. Pakistan also lost both of their World Cup games against New Zealand and Australia, respectively. It will be interesting to see whether Pakistan can turn their fortune around in the World Cup finals.

Cricket World Cup factfile on Pakistan:

- WORLD RANKING -
2

- MATCH SCHEDULE (IST) -

Oct 06: v Netherlands at Hyderabad (2 PM)

Oct 10: v Sri Lanka at Hyderabad (2 PM)

Oct 14: v India at Ahmedabad (2 PM)

Oct 20: v Australia at Bengaluru (2 PM)

Oct 23: v Afghanistan at Chennai (2 PM)

Oct 27: v South Africa at Chennai (2 PM)

Oct 31: v Bangladesh at Kolkata (2 PM)

Nov 04: v New Zealand at Bengaluru (10:30 AM)

Nov 11: v England at Kolkata (2 PM)

- SQUAD -

Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim.

- LEADING RUN-SCORER IN SQUAD -

Babar Azam: 5,409 runs; highest score 158; average 58.16; Hundreds 19; Fifties 28

- LEADING WICKET-TAKER IN SQUAD -

Hasan Ali: 91 wickets; best bowling 5-34; average 30.36

- PREVIOUS WORLD CUP APPEARANCES -

1975: Group stage

1979: Semi-finals

1983: Semi-finals

1987: Semi-finals

1992: Champions

1996: Quarter-finals

1999: Runners-up

2003: Group stage

2007: Group stage

2011: Semi-finals

2015: Quarter-finals

2019: Group stage

- WHAT THE CAPTAIN