Injuries have been a major worry for all the teams leading up to the highly anticipated ICC Cricket World Cup in 2023.
Many key players will be absent from the tournament in India due to these injuries, causing a lot of headaches for team management and forcing them to rethink their strategies. Team India, in particular, had to deal with several injury setbacks ahead of the Asia Cup 2023, but they have worked hard to address these issues.
The packed schedule of cricket matches in the days leading up to the World Cup has also raised concerns about the fitness of the players. The World Cup warm-up matches are set to start on September 29th, and as of September 27th, six participating teams have been actively involved in cricket action.
Unfortunately, there is a significant list of renowned players who will be missed in the World Cup due to their injuries. Let’s take a closer look at the prominent names who won’t be able to participate in the tournament because of their injuries.
1. Rishabh Pant (India) :
Photo: ESPNcricinfo
Indian wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant faced a significant setback last December when he was involved in a major accident. This unfortunate incident sidelined him from cricket for nearly a year, which means he won’t be able to participate in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
Pant was originally the preferred wicket-keeper for India, but now the responsibility will fall on KL Rahul, who will also handle the number 5 batting position.
2. Axar Patel (India):
Photo: Getty Images
India has had to make a last-minute change to their 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Unfortunately, Axar Patel couldn’t recover in time for the tournament due to a left quadriceps strain he sustained during a match against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup. This injury had already caused him to miss the Asia Cup final.
In his place, the experienced spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been selected. Ashwin made a strong comeback to One Day International (ODI) cricket in the recent series against Australia, where he took four wickets in two matches.
3. Michael Bracewell (New Zealand) :
Photo: ESPNcricinfo
New Zealand all-rounder, who was considered a rising star and a player to watch in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, suffered an injury while playing in England’s domestic T20 tournament.
This injury ruled him out of the entire tournament as he ruptured his right Achilles while representing Worcestershire in English county cricket. As a result, Rachin Ravindra was allowed to fill his spot.
4. Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka) :
Photo: ICC
Sri Lankan spin all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, who had been delivering outstanding performances in the Lankan Premier League, faced a significant setback of his own. He sustained a hamstring injury that might necessitate surgery for proper treatment.
Unfortunately, this injury means that Hasaranga will not be able to participate in the World Cup for Sri Lanka. Additionally, he was also ruled out of the Asia Cup 2023, which was held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
5. Dushmantha Chameera (Sri Lanka) :
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In addition to spin all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, Sri Lanka’s pace bowler Dushmanth Chameera won’t be able to participate in the entire ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Chameera was in the process of recovering from an injury, but he hasn’t fully regained his fitness in time for the World Cup.
He suffered a pectoral muscle injury while playing in the Lanka Premier League back in August. Chameera was a key figure in Sri Lanka’s fast-bowling lineup.
6. Naseem Shah (Pakistan) :
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Pakistan had high hopes for Naseem Shah in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, considering him a promising talent. However, Naseem Shah sustained a shoulder injury during a match against India in the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 round.
As a result, Hasan Ali has been allowed to step in and replace the 20-year-old Naseem Shah, who had become an essential part of Pakistan’s pace attack alongside Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf.
7. Anrich Nortje (South Africa) :
Photo: Twitter
Unfortunately, Anrich Nortje will once again miss the chance to represent South Africa in cricket’s premier event. Similar to what happened in the 2019 World Cup in England, Nortje has suffered another injury and has been ruled out of the entire tournament, which kicks off on October 5.
This time, it’s a lower back injury that has sidelined him. Lizard Williams has been selected as his replacement in the squad.
8. Sisanda Magala (South Africa) :
Photo: Getty Images
The 32-year-old fast bowler from South Africa also faced an injury setback, leading to his replacement by Andile Phehlukwayo in the country’s 15-member squad for the 2023 World Cup.
Sisanda Magala has been dealing with an issue in his left knee, which requires further evaluation and treatment. Magala, a right-arm pace bowler, has participated in eight One-Day Internationals (ODIs) for South Africa.
9. Ebadot Hossain (Bangladesh) :
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Following his absence from the Asia Cup 2023, it was expected that Ebadot Hossain would also be unavailable for the World Cup 2023 squad. Ebadot Hossain has been dealing with an ACL injury, a type of knee injury that typically requires a significant amount of time for recovery.
As a result, Ebadot Hossain won’t be able to represent the Bangladesh side in the upcoming major event in India.
10. Jofra Archer (England) :
Photo: Twitter
Jofra Archer has been plagued by injuries ever since he made his debut, and he hasn’t participated in a single tournament without facing injury concerns. Archer has been struggling with elbow problems since the beginning of his international career.
Unfortunately, he suffered another injury while playing for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2023. As a result, he will be part of the England squad as a traveling reserve for the World Cup.
