Babar Azam’s Pakistan team finally landed in Hyderabad ahead of the championship game on Wednesday, one day after receiving their visas for the ICC World Cup 2023 in India. The men’s cricket team from Pakistan is making its first trip to India in seven years. After Pakistan and Australia finish their three-match series, India, Pakistan’s bitter adversary, will host the One Day International (ODI) edition of the ICC World Cup, which will begin on October 5.
Babar and his companions travelled for nine hours through Dubai before arriving in Hyderabad. On Wednesday morning, the Green Army travelled from Lahore and arrived in Hyderabad later that evening. On October 3, the Asian superpowers will play against the five-time champions Australia.
Essentially, less than 48 hours before the team’s scheduled trip to Hyderabad, Pakistan’s cricket players obtained their Indian visas. Due to an injury, Pakistan’s captain Babar was unable to participate in the 2016 World Cup in India. “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 mentioned in a press conference.
“The BCCI has assured the ICC that all teams will be provided the best security and will be well looked after so I don’t expect anything different for our team. I don’t think our team will face any issues in India,” averred Zaka Ashraf, head, PCB management committee.
Pakistan’s 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.
