‘Ye toh apne hi logo ko rulaayega’ – Fans react as Fakhar Zaman says India is best place in world to play cricket

New Zealand’s decisive five-wicket victory against Sri Lanka has added complexity to Pakistan’s semi-final aspirations, solidifying the Kiwis’ lead in the points table. While Pakistan can match New Zealand’s 10 points, their net run rate poses a challenge. 

With New Zealand boasting a 0.74 net run rate, Pakistan need a substantial victory margin—287 runs or more when batting first or chasing the target with 284 deliveries to spare. Speculative in chasing scenarios, Pakistan‘s genuine chance lies in setting a formidable target, ideally reaching 400, and then restricting England to 112 runs, surpassing New Zealand’s net run rate.

Meanwhile, amid Pakistan’s slim chances to qualify for the semi-finals, their star opener Fakhar Zaman praised India’s cricket prowess, acknowledging them as the best in the world. Zaman said that India is the best place in the world to play cricket which definitely proves that he is pleased with the facilities and hospitality he received in India.

If Fakhar stays for 20-30 overs we can achieve whatever: Babar Azam

Given the political tensions between Pakistan and India, the positive sentiment from a Pakistani player, especially regarding the ongoing ODI World Cup in India, is significant. Despite the nations engaging in verbal disputes, Pakistan’s involvement in the tournament has brought joy to cricket enthusiasts across borders.

In the midst of the ODI World Cup, Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, addressed their qualification prospects. Babar revealed a strategy to tackle run rate challenges against England, emphasizing the pivotal role of Fakhar Zaman. Recognizing Zaman as the team’s most destructive batsman, Azam highlighted his impactful performance in the previous match against South Africa.

“We do have planning going into the game. It is not as if you go all guns blazing from the start itself. We need to plan accordingly as to how the first 10 overs need to be played and then the next 20 overs. We need to achieve those targets first, which includes partnerships and knowing which player has to spend an ample amount of time in the middle. Having said that, if you ask me, if Fakhar stays for 20-30 overs we can achieve whatever we are being asked to,” Babar was quoted as saying by Crictracker.

Here’s how fans reacted:

https://twitter.com/navsurani/status/1722978414481551504