As a cricketer, representing the country in global sporting event is usually a dream. For most cricketers, the one-day international (ODI) World Cup is such a tournament, but some top-class cricketers are missing out on the global event for injury and sometimes due to tactical decisions.

Here are five top players who are missing out on the ICC Cricket World Cup-2023, hosted by India from October 5 to November 19.

Tamim Iqbal: Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s most prolific opening batter in ODI format and country’s one of the all-time greats was left out when the squad was announced. Selectors said Tamim Iqbal’s persistent back injury forced him out of the final squad as they didn’t want to “take a risk” in the 46-day tournament. The left-handed opener has scored 8,357 runs, including 14 centuries, in 243 ODIs, but has been in and out of the side over the past few years due to injury

Naseem Shah: Pakistan

Naseem Shah has been a key component of Pakistan’s recent bowling attack, ably sharing the responsibility of opening the bowling with Shaheen Shah Afridi. The young bowller keeps the batters in check from one end at an impressive economy rate of 4.68 in 14 matches, while Afridi attacks from the other.  But Pakistan were forced leave Shah out of the World Cup squad after he suffered a major shoulder injury during Pakistan’s Asia Cup match against India last month. He is likely to be out injured for three to four months, according to Pakistan’s selectors.

Jason Roy: England

Roy was a vital member of England’s white-ball revolution that began under former captain Eoin Morgan after a dismal run at the 2015 edition, and he was one of their leading run scorers (443 runs in seven matches) when they turned things around to win their first World Cup four years later at Lord’s.

opening batter Roy has not been a permanent fixture in the England side due to injury and missed out on making a case for his inclusion in the World Cup squad as he suffered back spasms during last month’s ODI series against New Zealand.

Wanindu Hasaranga: Sri Lanka

Hasaranga is a Sri Lanka’s biggest cricket star in recent years. The leg-spinning all-rounder has three five-wicket hauls amongst his 67 wickets in ODI cricket. But the all-rounder suffered an injury during the Asia Cup and was not able to fully recover in time for the squad announcement, Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.

Michael Bracewell: New Zealand

New Zealand’s 2022 ODI player of the year is missing the World Cup for injury. His absence has dealt a big blow to the 2019 runners-up, who play the World Cup opener on October 5 against defending champions England. Bracewell can bat up and down the order, bowl decent off-spin and is also able to keep wickets. His batting average of 42.5 comes at an impressive strike rate of 118.60 in ODI cricket.

Source : Al-jazeera