India
Bilateral cricket between Pakistan and India remains suspended due to the strained political relations between the two nations. The last time Pakistan toured India for a cricket event was during the T20 World Cup in 2016. Additionally, Pakistan players do not participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which limits their exposure to Indian playing conditions.
During a pre-departure press conference, Babar Azam addressed concerns about the team’s readiness for the World Cup on Indian soil. He dismissed the notion that a lack of experience in Indian conditions would add undue pressure to his team’s performance.
“There’s no such pressure,” remarked the 28-year-old captain in front of reporters as the team prepared to depart for India via Dubai. “Every player keeps himself ready to perform in every condition, in every country. Most of us have not played in India, but the information we have gathered suggests conditions are going to be similar, except in Chennai, where spinners get more help. The rest of the venues will have good, sporting tracks.”
Babar, who previously played in the 2019 World Cup as a player but now leads the side, expressed his sense of honour and commitment to delivering a strong performance for Pakistan. He emphasized the team’s dedication to performing well in the upcoming World Cup.
The challenges posed by visa restrictions mean that Pakistan may not receive significant in-person support from fans in Indian stadiums. However, Babar Azam expressed optimism about the team’s prospects and the enthusiasm of their supporters.
“Unfortunately, we will be missing the fans,” said Pakistan’s batting mainstay. “However, our games are all sold out, so we will be playing in jam-packed stadiums. Although our fans will not be there, I know they will make sure their love is heard on social media.”
Pakistan’s World Cup campaign will commence with an October 6 match against the Netherlands, following two warm-up matches in Hyderabad.
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