ICC World Cup 2023: The 2023 ODI World Cup is set to be a platform for cricket’s finest talents, but a combination of injuries and selection decisions has led to several notable players missing out on this showcase event in India. With the tournament underway and squads finalised, here are the top 5 players whose absence fans will keenly feel.
Five star players who will not play ICC World Cup 2023
1. Tim Southee
The 2023 ODI World Cup was expected to mark the Kiwi fast bowler’s farewell, but unfortunately, the right-arm paceman will be absent from the tournament due to a dislocated right thumb injury sustained during an ODI against England in a recent series. He has taken 214 wickets with an economy of 5.47 in the ODIs.
2. Anrich Nortje
Undoubtedly one of the most prominent figures on this list, South Africa’s premier fast bowler has been sidelined from the World Cup due to an ongoing back issue. Renowned for his blistering pace and equipped with valuable IPL experience in Indian conditions, Anrich Nortje‘s absence is a significant setback for the Proteas, particularly given his familiarity with Indian pitches from his IPL stints. Notably, Nortje had previously missed the 2019 World Cup due to a fractured thumb.
3. Jason Roy
White-ball specialist opener Jason Roy has been omitted from England’s ODI World Cup squad. Despite being an experienced batter and one of the key figures in England’s victorious 2019 campaign, Roy faced tough competition in a squad overflowing with top-order batting talent. In the 2019 World Cup, he delivered an impressive performance, amassing 443 runs in 7 innings at an average of 63.28 and a striking strike rate of 115.36.
4. Naseem Shah
The highly promising 20-year-old fast bowler from Pakistan had been anticipated as one of the emerging talents in the forthcoming World Cup. Unfortunately, Naseem Shah sustained a shoulder injury during the Super Four match against India in the recently-concluded Asia Cup, dashing hopes of him being a formidable new-ball partner alongside Shaheen Shah Afridi in the tournament.
5. Travis Head
Adding to the list of unfortunate injuries, Australia’s Travis Head, who was slated to open the batting for the five-time champions, will now have to watch the tournament from home due to an unlucky left-arm fracture. This World Cup was meant to be Head’s debut on the grand stage.
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