Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur is hoping for two victories before his team faces their old rivals, India, in a highly anticipated World Cup match.
The 1992 champions will face the Netherlands in their first match in Hyderabad on Friday, followed by a match against Sri Lanka at the same venue four days later. The much-awaited clash against India will take place in Ahmedabad on October 14, in front of a crowd of 132,000 at the world’s biggest cricket arena.
“It’s going to be an unbelievable spectacle,” Arthur said. “I personally can’t wait for it. Hopefully, we’ll have two wins under our belt before we get to Ahmedabad.”
Arthur acknowledged that India, the top-ranked ODI team, is playing fantastic cricket, but he also believes that Pakistan is in great form. He expects it to be a thrilling game and is eager for the match to begin.
Pakistan is looking to bounce back after a disappointing performance in the recent Asia Cup, where they suffered a 228-run defeat against India and lost by two wickets to Sri Lanka. They also faced losses in both World Cup warm-up matches against New Zealand and Australia.
Arthur emphasized that the team’s focus is currently on the Netherlands and not looking too far ahead to the match against India. He mentioned that the players are enjoying their time in India and that the team is in a good place mentally.
The pitch at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad is known for high-scoring matches, with teams successfully chasing down scores above 300. Arthur expressed his satisfaction with the wickets in the warm-up matches and expects the pitch for the upcoming match to be of similar quality.
Arthur played down concerns about the lack of form of opener Fakhar Zaman and spinning allrounder Shadab Khan. He believes that form comes and goes, and that the quality of these players is undoubted. He hopes that they will perform well in the upcoming match.
In a separate video posted by the Pakistan Cricket Board, captain Babar Azam expressed the team’s determination to give their best in the 50-over spectacle. He mentioned the warm reception they received upon their arrival in India and expressed regret over the absence of Pakistani supporters.
Azam also spoke about the team’s preparations and their experimentation with batting and bowling combinations in the warm-up matches. He highlighted the strength of their fast bowlers and the impressive performance of their spinners. Azam is satisfied with the quality of the pitches and hopes for high-scoring matches.
The Pakistan skipper shared the team’s bowling strategy, emphasizing the importance of variations and focusing on bowling “wicket to wicket.”
Pakistan is determined to win their second World Cup and believes that they have a well-bonded team with players who not only play together but are also close friends.