New Delhi: The Pakistan cricket team is facing a major challenge in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 hosted by India, as several players have been affected by a viral fever outbreak in their camp. The team, which has won two out of three matches so far, is preparing for a crucial clash against Australia on October 20 in Bengaluru.
According to media reports, the viral infection has caused many players of the Pakistan team to fall ill and suffer from high fever. The team arrived in Bengaluru on Sunday after their seven-wicket defeat against arch-rivals India in Ahmedabad on the previous day. The loss was a huge setback for the team, which had started the tournament with two consecutive wins against Netherlands and Sri Lanka.
The team, led by Babar Azam, is now gearing up for its fourth and most important match against Australia, which will be played at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. However, the illness of many players has posed a serious problem for the team management, as they may have to make changes in their playing XI. The team may also have to cope with the lack of practice and energy due to the infection.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesperson has denied that it is a case of viral infection or disease and said that most of the players have fully recovered from it. However, three players are still unwell, including star players Abdullah Shafiq, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Usama Mir, who have reported fever⁴. The team had to cancel its practice session on Tuesday evening but resumed it after some time.
The team is hoping that the rest of the players will recover soon and be fit for the match against Australia, which is crucial for their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals. At present, Pakistan is in fourth position in the points table with four points. They will also face Afghanistan and South Africa in their remaining group matches.
