5 cricketers who played fewer than 10 ODI matches but managed to win a World Cup

Winning the World Cup is the dream of every cricketer. The 50-over edition takes place once every four years. Generally, selectors prefer experienced players to represent the nation on the grandest stage of the sport.

However, there have been instances when the team management has picked inexperienced youngsters in the World Cup squad. Some went on to lift the Cup but did not get enough opportunities to play.

Quite a few big names ended their careers without a World Cup win, while some had to wait a long time to put their hands on the prestigious trophy. In this listicle, we will look at five players who played fewer than 10 ODIs but managed to win a World Cup in their careers.

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#1 Sunil Valson, India - 1983

Left-arm fast bowler Sunil Valson is the only cricketer in the history of the sport to have been a part of a World Cup-winning team, but never played an international match. Valson was picked in the Indian squad for the mega event in 1983.

He warmed the benches the entire tournament. Valson did not get to play any international matches even after becoming a world champion.

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#2 Andrew Zesers, Australia - 1987

Former Australian fast bowler Andrew Zesers made his ODI debut at the mega event in 1987. He was named in the XI for Australia's match against India and also played the game against New Zealand.

Unfortunately, those two matches proved to be Andrew's only international appearances for Australia as injury issues troubled him a lot. Andrew scalped one wicket and scored 10 runs in those two games.

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#3 Wasim Haider, Pakistan - 1992

Pakistan won their only World Cup in 1992. The Men in Green captured the prestigious trophy while playing under the leadership of Imran Khan. Interestingly, the selectors picked a couple of inexperienced players in that Pakistani squad.

One of them was Wasim Haider. The right-arm fast bowler from Punjab played only three ODIs in his career, with his debut and last match taking place at the mega event in 1992. He scored 26 runs and took one wicket in those three matches.

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#4 Iqbal Sikander, Pakistan - 1992

Another inexperienced player whom Pakistan selected was Iqbal Sikander. He was an all-rounder who could bowl leg-spin. Like Wasim Haider, Iqbal played all the matches of his ODI career in the 1992 edition of the global event.

In his four appearances for Pakistan, he picked up three wickets and scored one run. Iqbal worked as a referee after retiring from cricket.

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#5 Liam Dawson, England - 2019 (Only active cricketer to win a World Cup having played less than 10 matches)

Liam Dawson was a surprise pick in England's 2019 WC squad (Image: Getty)

England spinner Liam Dawson made his ODI debut for England against Sri Lanka in 2016. He found a place in his country's squad for the 2019 edition of the mega event without having played an ODI match that year.

Dawson did not get to play a game during the competition as well. However, the 32-year-old got an opportunity to lay his hands on the trophy when England defeated New Zealand in the final. So far, Dawson has played only three ODIs for England.