In the lead-up to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, Pakistani cricket enthusiasts are buzzing with excitement, fueled by a captivating performance by leg-spinner Usama Mir in a warm-up game against Australia.
During the game at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad, the Australian batsmen displayed their prowess, amassing a formidable total of 351 runs in their allotted 50 overs. The highlight of their innings included an impressive knock by Glenn Maxwell, who scored 77 runs from 71 balls, adorned with ten boundaries that spanned all corners of the ground. This dynamic performance was complemented by Josh Inglis, who accelerated the Australian innings in the final ten overs, contributing 48 runs from just 30 balls at an impressive strike rate of 160.
Australia’s batting displayed tremendous strength, racing towards the coveted 100-run mark without losing a wicket. However, the match took a thrilling turn when Usama Mir, the talented leg-spinner from Pakistan, claimed two crucial wickets in successive overs. He dismissed the Australian openers, David Warner and Mitchell Marsh, who had scored 48 and 31 runs, respectively.
Usama Mir’s spell left an indelible mark, finishing with figures of 2/31 from his five overs. In contrast, Shadab Khan, the captain of the Pakistani squad in this game, recorded bowling figures of 1/69 and bowled his full quota of 10 overs.
As the cricketing community eagerly discussed the standout performance of these two leg-spinners, fans took to social media to express their opinions on who should hold the mantle as the premier leg-spinner in the Pakistani World Cup squad.
It’s noteworthy that Shadab Khan is leading the Pakistani team in the absence of Babar Azam, who is expected to primarily contribute as a batter, while Mohammad Haris has taken over wicketkeeping duties from Mohammad Rizwan.
In the lead-up to this warm-up game, Australia won the toss and chose to bat first. Pakistan, in their first warm-up encounter, posted an imposing total of 345 runs against New Zealand. However, they were unable to secure a victory, succumbing to a five-wicket loss. New Zealand chased down the target in a mere 43.4 overs, primarily due to a lackluster bowling performance by the Pakistani team.
Unfortunately, Australia’s warm-up match against the Netherlands was called off due to inclement weather.
It’s important to note that warm-up matches for the ICC World Cup 2023 consist of 50 overs per side. These matches do not hold ODI status, allowing teams the flexibility to include all 15 members of their squad in the playing XI. The anticipation continues to build as cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the commencement of the prestigious tournament.
