CRICKET
WATCH: Pakistan get warm welcome in Hyderabad as they arrive in India after 7 long years for ODI World Cup
Cricket fever has gripped the city of Hyderabad as Pakistan’s national cricket team arrived in India on Wednesday after a gap of seven years for the highly anticipated ODI World Cup. The atmosphere at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium was electrifying as fans and cricket enthusiasts of the city came in huge numbers to extend a heartfelt welcome to the visiting team.
The last time Pakistan played an ODI match in India was in December 2012, making this return even more significant for cricket fans on both sides of the border. However, the Men in Green came to play in the T20 World Cup in 2016 in India but their captain Babar Azam wasn’t included in the squad due to an injury. However, this time, he will be seen leading the team and he expressed his excitement as well. The video of their warm welcome is also getting viral on social media.
Watch the video here:
The beautiful hospitality of India and Indian people during the arrival of the Pakistani team.
The World Cup is gonna be top notch affair!pic.twitter.com/8FtZWri07r
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 28, 2023
“I am excited to play in Ahmedabad as it will be jam-packed. I will try my best to perform up to my potential. I am not worried about my individual accolades, I want to make sure whatever I do helps the result for the team,” Babar was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
Pakistan to play their first ODI World Cup 2023 match on October 6
The historic rivalry between the two nations has always added an extra layer of excitement to cricketing encounters, and this ODI World Cup promises to be no different. The Pakistani team was welcomed with traditional Indian hospitality as they landed in Hyderabad. The sight of Pakistani cricketers and their Indian counterparts sharing friendly smiles and handshakes was a heartwarming moment for cricket lovers worldwide, symbolizing the spirit of sportsmanship.
The ODI World Cup 2023 is expected to be a thrilling spectacle, with Pakistan and India locking horns once again on the cricket field at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 14. However, Pakistan’s first match will be played against the Netherlands on October 6 in Hyderabad.
Pakistan’s World Cup squad:
Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim.